Louise Baker

Louise Belcher Baker, 89, of Springvale, died peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2015 at Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford. Louise was born in Boston on September 23, 1925 to Harold and Marian (Wells) Belcher. She grew up in Malden where she attended local schools, graduating from Malden High School in 1943. Following high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire, receiving her bachelor's degree in 1947. While attending college Louise met her husband, Robert S. Baker. They lived in many places including New Hampshire, Vermont, and Pennsylvania before retiring to their favorite mountain valley in Stow, Maine. Together they raised three children and shared 41 years of marriage until his death in 1989. Louise spent much of her married life as a minister's wife, involved in church activities. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and in various libraries. She also served on the council of York County Senior College where she led a series of film courses. Family, friends, faith, books, and nature were the great joys in her life. At the time of her death she was a member of St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church in Saco. Louise was a devoted family woman who took great pride in her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were a great blessing during her later years. She will be remembered as a kind and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Surviving are three children: Susan Giles and her husband Jay, Andrew Baker and his wife Linda, and Nancy Kane and her husband Lawrence; five grandchildren: Kirsti and her husband Victor Dut Chol, Matthias Giles, Emily J. Baker and her husband Nirav Mehta, F. Robert Baker and his wife Tessa, and Betsy Kane and her husband Micah Weiss; and five great-grandchildren: Rosa, Robin, Alden, Eowyn, and Athena. Committal prayers will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 16th at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Stow, Maine. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church, 186 Bradley Street, Saco, Maine 04072 or Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 20 Petrograd Street, Berlin, New Hampshire 03570. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.