Josephine Baker

Poland - Josephine Baker, 84, of Poland, died Monday, November 19, 2007 in St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center. Mrs. Baker was born March 19, 1923 in New Castle, PA, a daughter of Julian and Karoline Woytowicz Kwolek. A 1941 graduate of New Castle High School, she worked at the bursarâa�a��s office at Youngstown State University, worked in a medical fieldâa�a��s office, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Baker was a member of the Poland United Methodist Church and a former member of Prince of Peace Church. She was also a member of the Cornersburg Happy Seniors and AARP. Mrs. Baker enjoyed doing volunteer work, reading, socializing, and enjoyed life. Her first husband, Mervyn Hicks, whom she married August 25, 1951, died November 7, 1986 and her second husband, Marion Baker, whom she married July 15, 1989, died July 3, 2003. Mrs. Baker leaves her daughter, Carol (Clair) Reedy of Poland; a son, Gary S. (Louisa) Baker of Poland; a sister, Julia McKinstry of Dallas, TX; six grandchildren, Mark Morrison of Elkhart, IN, Kim Morrison of Youngstown, Margaret (Eric) Porter of Poland, Deborah (Peter) D'Amico of Garrettsville, OH, Carla (Michael) Alfano of Boardman, and Denise Baker of Lakewood, OH; six great-grandchildren; two nieces, Karen (Mal) Gudis and Susan Gulden both of Dallas, TX; three great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by one great-nephew. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 9:30 a.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland with Pastor Dan Yargo officiating. Interment will follow in the Castleview Memorial Gardens, New Castle. Friends will be received Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in Mrs. Baker's name to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512 or to the American Heart Association, 840 Southwestern Run, Youngstown, OH, 44514. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

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