Ida Winnifred May Baker

May 4, 1931 – July 3, 2015

With heavy hearts, Ida’s family announces her passing on July 3, 2015 at the age of 84 years, with her family at her side. Born in Victoria, BC to young newcomers to Canada from Italy and England, Ida was the fifth child in a family of seven. As a young girl, Ida loved the freedom of her days in Victoria West - summers spent beachcombing and swimming at Troops Beach with her siblings and her girlfriends, picking cherries and apples from the trees, and playing field hockey at Vic West School. She liked to tell how her dad, Guiseppi, made his own wine long before it was fashionable and how he would take her with him to visit his Italian buddies. She had vivid memories of her family trying to make ends meet during the 1930’s and of frightening times living near Esquimalt, Canada’s Pacific Coast naval base, during World War II. Ida worked at the Empress Hotel in Victoria and at the Old British Fish & Chips Shop. One day, a young sea cadet from Montreal named Percy Baker happened in to buy fish and chips. He asked her out. She said no. He came back the next day and asked her out. She said no. He said he would come back every day until she said yes. Finally, she said yes and Percy became the love of her life until his early passing in 1978. In 1950, Ida and Percy left their beautiful Victoria and moved to Calgary for better employment opportunities. While they missed Victoria, they loved Calgary and the rich life they created here as part of the “family” of the Calgary Fire Department. Ida’s life work was that of a mother, homemaker and unsung champion of her family. She was a loving mother to, and is survived by, Terry (Diane) Baker, Sharon (Rae) Simpson, Gail (Mike) Yester and Michael (Cathy) Baker. She is “Nana” (aka “Nana Banana” and “Nay-Nay” among other names) to Misty, Joshua (Harper), Reid (Whitney), Scott (Charlotte), Derek and Danielle and great grandmother to Justin, Isabella and Thea. Ida is also survived by her brother Albert (Helen) and many nieces and nephews. Ida took pride in her home in Collingwood, Calgary, and in raising her children in a lovingly structured environment. Her life was simple and she found joy in drives in the country, music, parties and dinners with family, trips to Victoria, camping at Windermere Lake, fishing at Seebee and her West Highland Terriers Andy and Tessie. Ida was predeceased by her husband, Percy, her parents, Guiseppi Luigi Petrini and Annas Turner, her sisters Isabelle, Betty, Kay, Josie, her brother Harold and many brothers-in-law and sisters in-law and dear friends who had been an important part of the fabric of Ida’s life. In recent years, Ida suffered from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. While she will be sadly missed by her family, we are glad she is at peace and reunited with her dear Percy. During the often bewildering journey through the seniors’ care system, our family learned that walking among us are indeed angels, for whom senior, dementia and palliative care is truly a calling. Some of these angels spend their earthly days working at Scenic Acres Retirement Centre, Bow View Nursing Home, the Foothills Hospital and the Rockyview Hospital. Without naming these individuals, we are ever grateful to them for their compassion and generosity of spirit toward Mom. We also thank our extended family and friends for their support and guidance when needed. Ida’s life and her memory will be celebrated by her family at a private service in her beloved Victoria. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary 201 – 222 – 58 Ave SW Calgary AB T2H 2S3, http://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial