Obituary for Marie Anne Baker
Marie Ann Baker (nee Finn), 93 died suddenly on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Marie was born in Philadelphia to Ida Lorraine Simon and Joseph Aloysius Finn. She descended from an old South Philadelphia family in an area formerly known as Passyunk Township. Her grandfather was George Washington Simon and was a gardener or truck farmer. Marie married Haven Baker and had seven children. They were among the earliest residents of Willingboro, (previously Levittown) New Jersey. Their first home was a three bedroom, pink rancher on Sunset Road in the Somerset section of town. Marie later moved to Medford and then Mount Laurel. Marie’s children are: Kathleen (Don DeZottis), Mark (Theresa Ricardello), Adrienne (Steven Kemp), Kevin, Kenneth (Gerard Cerini), Forrest and Regina. Grandmother of Michelle (Norman Smith), Nichole (Russell Gaw), Kimberly (PJ Ackler), Danielle (Jay Curbow), Kevin, Charlie, Gina, Jack, Forrest, Evan, Brittany, Alan and Sean Mashaw, Drew and Brooke Ricardello and great grandmother to Brandon, Emily, Caden, Alyssa, Chloe and Logan.
Marie was passionate and supportive about causes that included animals, the environment, children’s health and organizations that improve living conditions for the less fortunate. She enjoyed travelling with her friends, creating and teaching ceramics, painting, knitting, crocheting and needlework. She sewed her own and her family’s clothing for many years as they grew up. She helped pattern young children with neural issues. Marie loved classical music and supported and attended many Philadelphia Orchestra concerts over the years. She loved art and volunteered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She was a wonderful baker who made her own bread. As children, we would devour her cinnamon bread as it came out of the oven. Even though she was a great baker, she was not the greatest cook. She usually made spaghetti one of two ways, almost soggy or crunchy. Marie was a take charge kind of lady who worked fulltime as a bookkeeper until she was 85 years old. She was active in the red hat ladies and other organizations.
Marie always seemed to be able to handle the various accidents that came from raising her seven children. In an era before the installation of an Emergency 911 system, she was once instrumental in saving the life of a young neighbor when his head was crushed by a garage door. Her quick reaction and know how kept him alive and conscious as she raced our station wagon carrying him and his mother to the hospital. Stitches, broken bones, childhood diseases like Mumps, Measles and Chicken Pox were all met with calm and know how. We all managed to survive without too much trauma.
In Marie’s memory, any contribution to any of the charities listed: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, World Wildlife Fund, Unicef, Natural Resources Defense Fund, NOW and of course, the Democratic National Committee would be deeply appreciated.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebratory memorial service with the family at a future time due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Burial will be private.
Marie was passionate and supportive about causes that included animals, the environment, children’s health and organizations that improve living conditions for the less fortunate. She enjoyed travelling with her friends, creating and teaching ceramics, painting, knitting, crocheting and needlework. She sewed her own and her family’s clothing for many years as they grew up. She helped pattern young children with neural issues. Marie loved classical music and supported and attended many Philadelphia Orchestra concerts over the years. She loved art and volunteered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She was a wonderful baker who made her own bread. As children, we would devour her cinnamon bread as it came out of the oven. Even though she was a great baker, she was not the greatest cook. She usually made spaghetti one of two ways, almost soggy or crunchy. Marie was a take charge kind of lady who worked fulltime as a bookkeeper until she was 85 years old. She was active in the red hat ladies and other organizations.
Marie always seemed to be able to handle the various accidents that came from raising her seven children. In an era before the installation of an Emergency 911 system, she was once instrumental in saving the life of a young neighbor when his head was crushed by a garage door. Her quick reaction and know how kept him alive and conscious as she raced our station wagon carrying him and his mother to the hospital. Stitches, broken bones, childhood diseases like Mumps, Measles and Chicken Pox were all met with calm and know how. We all managed to survive without too much trauma.
In Marie’s memory, any contribution to any of the charities listed: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, World Wildlife Fund, Unicef, Natural Resources Defense Fund, NOW and of course, the Democratic National Committee would be deeply appreciated.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebratory memorial service with the family at a future time due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Burial will be private.