Barbara "Judy " Baker
Sadly and suddenly, Judy passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of October 1st, 2005 following a day of visits from her many friends and an evening spent with her husband and daughter. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jack Baker, her daughter Susan Baker and her grandchildren Jonathon and Olivia.
Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1928, Judy immigrated to Canada with her husband in 1954. After 3 cold Manitoba winters they settled in Calgary to start a family. Judy loved her life as a mother and homemaker and helped her husband in various business ventures. The start of a new marine business took them east to Port Credit in 1968 where they remained until their retirement to Nanaimo in 1989. Judy was extremely close to her only child Susan Baker and doted on her two grandchildren Jonathon Chapple and Olivia Haller (all of Toronto), who knew her as "Nanny." Judy never veered from her English roots and made regular pilgrimages home to be with her family there. In the last number of years she lost her own Mother, her Mother-in-law and four of her nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by her sisters Christine, and Margaret, brothers Jeffrey, David and Graham and many nieces and nephews spread across Australia, Canada and England. She was also very close to her sister-in-law Peggy and nephew Christopher in England.
Judy showed signs of Alzheimer's disease as early as 2001 but her decline was very slow. She retained her cheerful attitude and was able to put on a brave face and remain active in Nanaimo's Gyro organization. She still remembered friends when they visited but was frustrated with her memory loss.
Having witnessed her own Mother's long and painful battle with the disease, the family feels that when she became ill just a couple of weeks, Judy chose not to go to battle, preferring to bow out gracefully and with dignity. Her loving and gentle manner, big smile and sunny disposition will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 6th, 2005 at Sands Funeral Chapel at 1 Newcastle Avenue, Nanaimo. There will be a celebration of Judy's life to follow at her home. For those so desiring donations in memory of Judy may be made to the Alzheimer Society.
SANDS FUNERAL CHAPEL - NANAIMO
753-2032