June Baeker

BAEKER, June…

June Elizabeth Baeker (nee Work) passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 12th, 2021 in her 92nd year. Predeceased by husband George Baeker and loving parents John and Elizabeth Work. Loving mother to Greg, Jeff and his wife Heather, and Marcia Baeker-Garrison.

June grew up on a family farm outside Brussels, in southwestern Ontario. Her rural roots stayed with her throughout her life, evolving into a love of gardening and involvement with the Garden Club of London for 25 years. Her brother Graham continued to farm the land for many years with his wife Margaret. “The farm” was an important part of growing up for Greg, Jeff and Marcia. One fact tells you a lot about June. She sang in a church choir for more than 70 years. It tells you how important music and her faith were to her. She won awards at Kiwanis Music Festivals in her teens and was a church soloist for many decades. She chose a profession at a time when many women did not, graduating from Stratford Teachers College and teaching for many years in London.

To know her was to know above all she was her mother’s daughter. Both wanted more for their children than they had themselves and encouraged them to achieve in whatever life they chose. Both were always, always beautifully dressed, caring in the best way how they presented themselves to the world. Our image of her now is shaped by how she appeared at the end of her life but we must remember how strikingly beautiful she was for most of her time with us. A blessing in her later years was a loving relationship with a remarkable man, Ross Fuller for whom she cared deeply. She was also blessed with a “second daughter” Kathy Work-Schlattman and son-in-law Bryon Schlattman. They cared for “Auntie June” with love and devotion. She was determined, sometimes stubborn but always gracious and loving. She treasured and maintained deep friendships all her life. For those of us whose lives she touched her absence is hard to accept, but it was a long life, well-lived.

Cremation has taken place with a private family inurnment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 12-1 pm at Colborne Street United Church, 711 Colborne Street, London, ON N6C 3Z4, with the memorial service following at 1 pm. Masks are required to attend the visitation and service. Donations in memory of June may be made to Colborne Street United Church or the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1200-2300 Yonge Street, Box 2414, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4. Arrangement entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com