Mary Jean Baker

Baker, Mary Jean of Quincy, died September 16, 2013 at the age of 73.

Cherished and beloved companion through life of Mary F. McLaughlin, and treasured longtime friend of Mary Ellen Barnes of Quincy, she also leaves her dear siblings Patricia Ann Dow and her husband, William Dow of Somerville; and James Paul Baker and his wife, Lee Parker Jones, of Newburyport; and nieces and nephews Elise and Peter Boudreau of Auburn, N.H.; Timothy and Michelle Livingston of Sandown, N.H.; Denise and Ron Ventola of Gilmanton, N.H.; and Lily C. Baker of Portsmouth, N.H. Mary was predeceased in September of 2005 by another sister, Frances Roberta Livingston.  On the McLaughlin side of her family, Mary leaves Thomas and Karen McLaughlin of Ashburn, Va.; Jason and Kate McLaughlin of Santa Rosa, Ca.; Kelly McLaughlin of Ashburn, Va.; Christopher McLaughlin and Amelia Bergman of Bear, Del.; Frank and Brenda McDermott of Rye Beach, N.H.; Frank and Amy McDermott of Plum Island; Susan and Kenneth Reade of Lebanon, N.H.; and Christopher and Kimberly McDermott of Barrington, R.I.  She also will be greatly missed by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, and by her faithful feline friends, Simon and Emma.  

Mary was born April 13, 1940 in East Cambridge to the late Paul and Edna (Duffy) Baker. She attended high school at Girls Catholic High School in Malden and subsequently entered the convent of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal. She appreciated the 14 years she spent as a member and continues to maintain a very close connection to the Grey Nun community;  the friendships she made there continued to today and are very special to her.  Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in Newton College of the Sacred Heart and a master’s degree in theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee.  Mary worked as a religious education coordinator in Lexington and Methuen before spending ten years as a religious education coordinator especially and teacher at St. Clement School in Somerville and Medford. She especially loved the 25 years she spent as theology teacher at Fontbonne Academy in Milton.  Mary’s list of things she liked most:  “Being with family and friends, her students, teaching, our home, reading, travel, music.”  She never failed to state, “I’ve had a wonderful life.”  She and her beloved Mary extend deepest gratitude to all who have prayed for and supported them, and to the staffs at Somerville Family Practice; Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge; and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where they marveled at the wonderful culture and climate of care and concern from doctors, nurses, patient care technicians, social worker, lab technicians, administrative staff, maintenance, chaplains, physical therapists and transport staff. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock Street, on Friday, Sept. 20 from 3-7pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the Funeral Home on Saturday morning at 9:15am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Ann’s Church, 757 Hancock Street, Quincy, Saturday at 10:00am where Mary worshipped. Burial in Milton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, at Mary’s request, donations may be made to the scholarship fund at Fontbonne Academy, 930 Brook Road, Milton, MA 02186 or the Jackson School, 200 Jackson Road, Newton, MA 02458.