Baker, Madeleine

BAKER, Madeleine - In loving memory - Born February 20, 1924 in Chelmsford, Ontario, Madeleine Baker (nee - Castonguay), youngest child of Cyprien and Annastasia Castonguay, passed away peacefully at the James Bay Care Centre in Victoria, BC, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, surrounded by her family. She was 85. Madeleine was a gifted dancer; at thirteen she won the Ontario speed tap dancing competition in Toronto. She was also a brilliant student graduating as class valedictorian from St. Joseph's College of Nursing in Sudbury. Her grades were the highest in the province and won her a full university scholarship. She served as head nurse and as administrator of St. Joseph's Hospital in Sudbury until her retirement. Madeleine married her ‘knight in shining armour', Harold Baker who she described as ‘a gift from God'. Madeleine was an Advanced Senior Life Master with the American Contract Bridge League and played at some of the world's most prestigious tournaments, yet one of her greatest joys was to sit down to a good game of cards with family and friends. She had a photographic memory and loved to solve crossword puzzles and word games. She excelled at languages and was studied in English, French, Latin, German and Spanish. Madeleine and Harold moved to Victoria in 1987 where she took up volunteer work at the James Bay Care Centre, comforting those “Dear souls left all alone in this world” as she so aptly put it. A tireless care giver, she lived her life placing the needs of others ahead of her own. Madeleine spent her last years at the James Bay Care Centre where she was loved by all and treated like family. Bill and Franca Burd, Timothy Burd and Colleen Jarvis would like to express their sincerest gratitude to all the staff for their wonderful care and companionship well above the call of duty.