Beryl Elaine Baker 1920 to 1911 Mrs Beryl Elaine Baker died peacefully aged 91 on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 in the Palliative Care Unit of the Western Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, surrounded by her daughter Angela, son David, his wife Pamela, granddaughter Kerry and grandson Bruce as well as friend and retired nurse, Helen Blair, who had been an invaluable support to her through her two year battle with pancreatic cancer. She slipped away gradually and peacefully, remarking how lucky she was having what she wanted … good friends, family with her at the end, talks on the phone with those she loved but who could not be physically with her and, unstated but very important to her, with her sharp mind, memory and sense of fun still there except where inevitably dulled by the drugs that controlled her pain at the end. Beryl Baker was born in Kingston, Jamaica to Sidney and Miriam Martin. Educated at Wolmers Girls School, Kingston, she went on to obtain a BA degree by external study and a final year in residence at the University of London. This in itself said something about her determination when she felt something was necessary despite it meaning personal sacrifice. She was by then married to Peter and, with her daughter Angela then aged 4, this meant leaving them both living with her parents for the best part of a year away. Beryl went into teaching, ending up at St Hugh’s High School for girls in Kingston where she taught French and Mathematics and served as a much respected and valued Vice Principal for many years. She was firm but always fair and engendered both respect and admiration as a role model from both students and fellow staff alike. Her sense of fun showed itself at events such as Prize giving when she and the then Head put on a sketch with Beryl dressed as a rastafarian. Following the early and unexpected death of her dear Peter in 1974, when she was only 54, Beryl retired three years later and left to start a new life in Corner Brook, Newfoundland living with her daughter Angela and family. She provided invaluable support in bringing up her three grandchildren and guiding them through the transition to their adult life. She embraced the dramatic and extreme climate change, learning to ski at 60 and allowing her son-in-law, Alan, to take her down the infamous “Oh Me Jesus” ski run which would put off many a far more experienced skier. Not content with that, she also enjoyed going on the back of a skidoo (snowmobile) and revelled in doing 100 mph on the back of Alan’s motorcycle. Later, in her late 80s she went with family friend Alf Doyle for a ride that scared her daughter when he repeated the experience. Beryl spent many years looking after other members of the family … whilst still in Jamaica her mother-in-law and much later her father-in-law. From Newfoundland she would travel back to Jamaica to look after her mother and then her father and later would go to Toronto to help with her brother, Keith and sister in law, Dorothy, before they passed away. With this she did fit in trips to England to see her son David, daughter-in-law Pamela and family as well as sister Phyllis and her husband Bob. She enjoyed some lovely times there, including trips to France where she could tune in her French again. Beryl never ceased wanting to learn and was an avid reader on a wide variety of subjects. She took up the guitar followed by the accordion and piano and became an enthusiastic member of the Scottish Country Dancing Society where she enjoyed her dancing as well as making many good friends. She got most pleasure from creating a stunningly beautiful garden on a steep bank behind her home. Her sense of fun, and ‘can do / will do’ determination led her to insist on her daughter, Angela, overlooking her advanced stage of pancreatic cancer and taking her for a ride in her kayak on Tippings Pond at the age of 91. When she finally accepted having home care support, to give Angela some respite, she formed a friendship with her support worker, Ruby, and started teaching her to play the piano. Beryl’s innate interest in and care for others won her many friends and admirers throughout her life right up to the end in the Palliative Care Unit. Staff there commented on these attributes, her sharp mind and continuing interest in life, learning and people. For example, she learnt the name of all the nurses and those of their children and would recall these to the end. Staff frequently said what a privilege it had been to know her. That sums up the experience of many who knew her. She will be truly missed and her memory will remain with love and respect in the hearts of many, not just her family. In short, A remarkable Woman! As well as her daughter, Angela, former husband, Alan, son, David and daughter in law, Pamela, she left grandchildren, Shan (husband Bob), Kerry (husband Keith), Bruce, Fiona (husband Joerg), Ntiana and Peter and great grandchildren, Danielle, Lucas, Francesco and Christina as well as sister, Joan and cousins, nieces and nephews and their offspring too numerous to mention. Of these, special mention must be made of her nephew, Roger and his wife Sheelagh who just happened to be visiting when she was admitted to the Palliative Care Unit and provided great support to Beryl and Angela for nine days, leaving a day after David and Pamela arrived. Beryl was pre-deceased by her husband, Peter, brothers, Ronald, Sidney (Sir Sidney Martin) and Keith and sisters Phyllis and Marjorie. Friends may visit Fillatre’s Funeral Home, 4 St. Mark’s Avenue on Monday, October 24th from the hours of 2-5 p.m. with a memorial service to follow immediately at Fillatre’s Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. David Russell officating. Friends are invited to drop by the family residence, 56 Brosnan Street on Monday, October 24th at 8:00 p.m. As expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Western Memorial Regional Hospital Foundation. Anyone in Jamaica wishing to make a similar donation is invited to make it in Memory of Beryl Baker to St Hugh's High School, Kingston.