Audrey Marie Baker

HURLEY, Wis. - Audrey Marie Baker (Saari), 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 8, 2019.

She was born on April 5, 1933 to the late Rudolph and Laura Saari. Audrey attended Hurley High School and graduated in 1951. She married the love of her life, James R. Baker on Aug. 18, 1951. They settled down in Ironwood, Mich. and built a wonderful life together raising their five children: Dan, Dave, Jeanne, Jim, and JoAnn.

Audrey and Jim were married for 43 years and loved spending time together with their kids and their kids' growing families. Audrey enjoyed bird hunting with Jim in the fall and their travels to Las Vegas and Hawaii with Don and Jean Baker. Holidays were always a time to celebrate with Thanksgiving and Christmas being her favorite. She got so much joy seeing them through the eyes of her grandchildren. Audrey volunteered for many years at Our Lady of Peace with a great group of ladies serving lunches during church functions. She also loved to play bingo, watch game shows and could never pass up a trip to the casino with her friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Laura Saari; her husband, James Baker; her son, Daniel Baker; and her granddaughter, Erin Baker.

She is survived by her children, David (Debbie) Baker, Jean (LeRoy) Niemi, James (Tracy) Baker and JoAnn (Jeff) Bartolameolli; daughter-in-law, Jill Baker; her grandchildren, Laura (Adam) Vandenbush, Hilary (Ken) Baker, Matthew Baker, Kevin (Lauren) Baker, Becky (Eric) Boquist, Cody (Thomas) Rustad, Elizabeth Nardi, Jami Nardi, Sophie Bartolameolli, Audrey Bartolameolli, Tyler (Holly) Carlin, Brady Carlin and Danielle (Adam) Bielski; and 16 great-grandchildren. Also, surviving are her brother, Robert (Jackie) Saari; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with Father Binu Joseph as celebrant, preceded by a visitation from 10 a.m. until the Mass.

Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

Our family would like to give special thanks to the staff at the Villa Maria nursing home, especially, Vicki and Diane, for taking such wonderful care of our sweet Mom and the love you all gave her.

McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Ironwood, is assisting the family. For more information or to express online condolences, please visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com