Winnifred (Wyn) Anne Elizabeth Baker-Haugen (nee Veach), 82, of Kamloops, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Kamloops Seniors Village.
Wyn was born on March 7, 1932 in Kamloops, B.C. to Hugh Dearen and Margaret Anne Veach, and was sister to her younger brother, Robert Hugh. She graduated from Kamloops Secondary School in 1949 after skipping two grades. Wyn earned a Certificate of Business Administration from the University College of the Cariboo when she was 59, in her life-long quest for learning.
In 1954 Wyn married Howard Baker with whom she had four children in Kamloops. In 1986 she married her partner for the rest of her life, Leslie Nelson Haugen.
Wyn was a caring and compassionate daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, home-maker, and a lover of animals, art, literature and music. In the tradition of her grandmother, she loved to sew, knit, crochet, embroider and weave. In the tradition of her mother, she loved cooking, baking, and water-color painting. She was very pleased to show her paintings in gallery settings.
Wyn is remembered for her tender demeanor and for providing a wonderful, loving and safe environment for her children, grandchildren, and their friends to flourish within. She lived for her family, and right until the very end continued to both recognize accomplishments and soothe their hardships. She took great joy in every family gathering and great pride in her family’s every accomplishment. She had a beautiful smile and loved to laugh. Her breads, pies, cookies, butter tarts, banana bread, canning, fruit jams and spaghetti sauce (amongst many other culinary specialties) were legendary.
Wyn worked in the Admissions Department and the Vocational wing of Cariboo College where she loved to help, guide and orient students from around the world to their educational experience
Wyn was predeceased by her first son, ”Randy” Baker, of Victoria, BC, and her parents. She is survived by: her devoted husband Leslie Haugen of Kamloops; brother “Bobby” Veach (Doreen) and family; son Lyle Baker (Isabella) of Salmon Arm, BC; son Brett Baker (Georgia) of Bozeman, MT; and son Barry Baker (Christine) of Kamloops, BC; grandchildren Dustin Baker (Ashley), Blake Baker (Taniss), Brittany Alexander, Nina Baker, Chad Baker, Hailey Baker, and Shae Baker. Wyn’s niece Heather Phelps will deliver the eulogy.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Kamloops Funeral Home at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 5, 2014. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or the Shriners.