Mary Dolores Baca

Mary Dolores Baca (MD), aged 59, died Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 of metastasized breast cancer. She has left behind two children, Paul and Reina Ortiz (23 and 21 years old respectively). They miss her a lot, but strangely, her death has brought them closer. It's wonderful how good things can come from sadness. MD was also much loved by her brothers Alex (62) and John (54) and her sister, Pilar (71).

MD was an elementary school teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Royal Oaks, Michigan, and then a preschool teacher in St. Louis, Missouri. She loved children and, wherever her students happen to be in the world, she would like to wish them the very best.

We, Paul and Reina, would like to thank everyone in Webster Groves who helped MD in the last years of her life. We owe you the world. Also, we thank her close friends and Pilar Baca, her sister, who supported the whole family in this last year and did an incredible job of it.

The memorial service will be at 10:00 am with a reception at 11:00 am on February 7 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 9 South Bonpart Avenue, Webster Groves. At MD's request children are specifically and enthusiastically invited to all or part of the services.

In lieu of flowers Mary Dolores has requested donations to your favorite charity. Two of her favorites are Stray Rescue of St. Louis (www.strayrescue.org) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (www.bbbsemo.org).