Mrs. Helen Jo Hard Baker

Baker, Helen Jo Hard - loving and gracious mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and companion passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 in Winter Garden, FL. Helen was born on January 14, 1937 in Springfield, MO and lived in Bolivar and Lee's Summit, MO. Helen was an active member of her community serving as president of the local PTA, the Lee's Summit Park Board and the Lee's Summit Board of Realtors. Helen was the owner/broker of Bender Hatfield Realty until relocating to Westfield, NJ in 1973. In Westfield, Helen continued a successful career as a real estate broker for Barrett and Crain Realty and as a NJ real estate appraiser until she retired in 1985. After retiring, she lived in Winter Park and Winter Springs, FL where she became heavily involved in civic and community service. Helen served as a Certified Court Mediator for the Seminole County, Florida. Concurrently, Helen was president of her Tuskawilla home owner's association for eight years, a member of the Tuskawilla Lighting and Beautification Board from inception until 2014, and the Citizen Representative and Recording Secretary on the Executive Board of Hospice of the Comforter for ten years. She also volunteered for the Orange County Convention Center and worked with local seniors assisting them with completing Medicare and insurance forms. In her free time, Helen enjoyed dancing, painting, traveling, gardening and playing bridge with her many friends. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Richard G. Baker, and sister Elizabeth Turner. She leaves behind her significant other and constant care-giver, Maurice (Moe) Young; sister, Harriett Story, Fort Lauderdale; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Samuel, Bonita Springs, FL; son, Thomas Baker, Upper Black Eddy, PA; grandchildren, Kelly (Kevin) Kirchener, Christine Bowman, Zane Baker, Zack Baker, Samuel (Lori) Bowman, and Blake Andrew Bowman; great grandchildren Blake and Sarah Bowman and Henry Kirchener. Helen also leaves behind the loving children of Maurice Young; Terry Young, Kim (Pat) Hunt, and Dale (Julia) Young.

The family will receive friends for a memorial service on Friday, September 2 at 1:00 pm Lake Ivanhoe Chapel of Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 301 NE Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Comforter, 595 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.