Kathleen Ann Baba

Kathleen Ann Baba was born in San Diego, California on September 20, 1955 to William and Jacqueline Hesketh. She passed away on August 15, 2015 in her home surrounded by loved ones at the age of 59. With her battle against cancer at its end, Kathleen is survived by her husband David Baba, her children Kristina, Christopher and Connor, her sister Rebecca Karmann, her grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Kathleen moved from San Diego as a young child and lived most of her childhood in Aptos, California. She attended Notre Dame Catholic School and later Aptos High School. Kathleen then moved to Fresno where she attended California State University Fresno for accounting. Later she was employed by Valley Children's Hospital and helped organize their telethons. She met her husband David Baba while living in Fresno. They married in 1990 in Selma, David's home town, and moved to Merced. Together they raised Kristina, Christopher, and Connor.

Kathleen's many accomplishments included learning and teaching ballroom dance, playing the guitar, culinary excellence, and decorative painting. She taught decorative painting, first at Michaels in Merced and Modesto, then at Hobby Lobby in Merced and Beverly's Fabrics in Modesto.

But her greatest joy was taking care of her children and being heavily involved in their school lives. She volunteered at St. Luke's School when her youngest son, Connor, was in grade school. As her children started entering band she devoted time to being a band mom and a part of Golden Valley High Band Boosters where she helped organize fundraisers and plan the Central California Band Review. She almost attended every one of her children's performances even when they asked her not to. "You'll thank me one day," was her reply, and she was right.

To everyone else she was just as devoted. To her students, she was not just a teacher, but a friend who could be called on in times of need. To her children's friends, and most of the band, she became a second mom. To her husband, the best wife you could ask for: a help mate with a hint of feistiness.

Please join us in celebrating this lovely woman by bringing your stories to share with us all. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B Street Merced, CA. The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 671 East Yosemite Avenue, Merced, CA. The burial will follow at approximately 1:30 p.m. at Selma District Cemetery, 2430 Floral Avenue, Selma, CA.