Obituary of Catherine Baker

Well lived, well liked and well loved – a fitting tribute to Catherine (Kay) Baker of Calgary who passed away on Monday, August 7, 2006 at the age of 95 years. Kay understood duty and obligation and fulfilled these joyfully; whether it was in caring for ailing parents, siblings, the “Belcher Boys” for over thirty years as a volunteer, her church, her community, or her country. She was a proud Calgarian, Saskatchewan’er, and Canadian. Never was heard a complaint about the hand that life dealt her – she epitomized the belief that if the universe hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Kay always said, “We’re a long time dead dear!”, so make it good now. She rejoiced in her 70th, 80th, 85th, and 90th birthday celebrations. Kay loved to lace up her dancing slippers and cut a rug! She was a proud prairie woman from the coulee and was devoted to her parents, Bernard and Gertrude. Her siblings, Ed, Bernie, Margaret, and Hilda formed a close and loving family unit. Kay had a strong hand in the raising of Dick. Some of the happiest moments in Kay’s life were spent travelling to far flung locales; she particularly treasured the memory of singing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Fiji in 1977. She spent years singing and travelling with the Calgary Music Makers, a job so enjoyable to her that only her failing health was able to force her to leave the choir. She was a bingo caller extraordinaire at the Oddfellow Rebekkah Tower for twenty years, and no one was ever lost in the shuffle when she was the hall monitor! Kay was always relied upon to be the walking family historian and know all the birthdates, where we were living at this moment and what we were all up to. They don’t make them like this anymore! Kay is survived by her only remaining sibling, Hilda Krohn of Carmichael, SK, and latterly Maple Creek, SK; and great niece, Trudy Baker and her three sons. She is also survived by nephews, RJ (Dick) Baker, Bernie, Jim, and Robbie Baker; nieces, Lynette Krochenski, Debbie Kolla and Carlotta Maser and their families; numerous other loving nieces and nephews from Vancouver to Halifax; and cousins from Austria to California. Please join us in Celebrating the Life of this special soul. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, #100, 2421 – 37 Avenue N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 6Y7 Telephone: (403) 250-7090, www.mssociety.ca/en/give. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Kay’s companion of the last few years, Roxanne Rainey. In living memory of Catherine Baker, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.