Tribute

Mom Obituary draft:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother (Alice) Mae Baker May 9, 1929 – March 12, 2024. Mae is predeceased by her husband, our father (Harold) Harvey Baker Feb 12, 2016.

Mae was born in Vancouver and lived on Lulu Island until moving to Victoria at a young age. Later she trained as a Registered Nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Harvey was raised in Coombs where his parents had the Baker General Store. He left Coombs for Vancouver to train as an electronic technician and then moved to Victoria where he received several awards for his work with radar for Navy ships.  He was a visionary, determined and capable of achieving anything he put his mind to.

Mae and Harvey met in Victoria through friends and married in 1954. Harvey left the Dockyard to start his own business repairing electronic equipment, in particular organs. Mae left nursing to raise their 4 children.

Mae was a true beauty, a talented and lovely lady. Music was a huge part of her life. Mae and Harvey were very involved in their Church where Harvey was pastor and Mae played the organ, and arranged the music for services.

Mae was a natural caregiver. In 1980 Mae and Harvey sold their home and business and together established Joan Crescent Manor retirement home. A very special period in their lives, Harvey managed the business end and Mae relished in taking care of others and making life special for all. Joan Crescent was filled with music, flowers, and annual events like Mae’s favourite Strawberry Tea and Christmas Carol Sing.

Mae and Harvey retired to their little cottage at Cherry Point. Harvey and Mae created a beautiful property where they regularly welcomed friends, family, neighbours, and church members for massive BBQs; Harvey preparing his famous barbequed salmon and Mae preparing everything else including her famous desserts, treats and buns. Mae became known in the area for her daily 10km walks.

Sadly, Harvey suffered a stroke/cerebral hemorrhage leading to a move for both to Victoria. After 62 years together Harvey ended his days at Aberdeen hospital. Until that time Mae visited daily and cared for him until a serious accident had her rehabilitating in Aberdeen as well.

Mae and Harvey were united by their faith and their love of family for their 61 years of marriage.

Eventually Mae moved into assisted living in Victoria. Being a strong-spirited woman and avid walker COVID lock down interfered with Mae’s routine and she had to leave Victoria for Chemainus where Dovehill became her home. She loved the water view, gardens, making new friends and enjoyed the kind staff until Sept 2023.

While Mae’s last years since her accident were plagued with pain, she loved her outings with family and new friends and took great enjoyment in her grandchildren and great grandchildren sharing her obsession for ice cream with her great granddaughter.

Mae touched everyone who spent time with her. She was known as a kind, talented, determined woman with a very humorous side. Her British heritage instilled in her an appreciation and passion for china and antiques, she loved and found beauty in nature and music.

Mae leaves behind her children Patti (Devan), Sandi, Tim, Ken, her grandchildren Brendan (Emily), Caitlin (Marcus), Ashlin (Jeremy) Lehna and Sam and her great grandchildren Rory and Roenick.

We would like to thank the staff at Dovehill and the VIHA Caregivers for making Dovehill feel like home and for their kind and caring attention.

Special thanks to private companions who became like family to Mae.

And finally, thank you to the compassionate staff at Cairnsmore Place where Mae spent the last few months of her life.

Please email Patti if you would like to attend: pbailey@shaw.ca.

Sincerely, Mae’s family.