Rita A. Baker, 95
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Rita Angela Baker, 95, of Windsor, Conn., formerly of North Adams, died peacefully on Saturday, April 18, 2015.
Born in North Adams on Feb. 15, 1920, though she always claimed to be a Valentine's Day baby, she was the daughter of Frank and Maria Carmela Mancuso Maruco, and stepdaughter of Maria Concetta Cerminara Maruco. She grew up in North Adams and attended Drury High School and the Red Cross Aquatic School at Springfield College. She had most recently lived with her daughter in Windsor.
Mrs. Baker was employed at the former J.C. Penney Store on Main Street for years, including working downstairs in the children's department, helping parents and kids get ready for school.
She also was a swimming instructor each Tuesday, Ladies' Day, for many years at the YMCA, and was director of the YMCA's summer camp.
She was an active member of the Mark Hopkins PTO, a Brownie leader, a past president and member of the North Adams Emblem Club, a life member of the Garden Club of America, and a member of the Holy Rosary Society at the former St. Anthony's Church.
Her husband, Robert C. Baker, whom she married on Oct. 29, 1949, died 2003.
She leaves two daughters, Maria Pettibone-Johnson and her husband, Philip, of Windsor, Conn.; Frances Hewes and her husband, David, of Holyoke; her sister, Viola Novak; two grandchildren, Tyler Pettibone and Karli Pettibone Moschetto and her husband, Peter; two great-grandchildren, Joey and Nathan; her sister-in-law, Eva Maruco; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She was predeceased by her three brothers, Fioramonte, Peter, and Joseph Maruco and four sisters, Carmel Matrigali, Palm Rose Maruco, Emma Raithel and Anne Minnicone.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Rita Baker will be celebrated Friday, April 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
A calling hour will be held Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams.