SISTER MARY HELEN BAKER

Sister Mary Helen Baker (the former Sister Anne Emily), a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Saint Anne Villa, Convent Station, NJ at the age of 91.

Sister Mary Helen was born in Roxbury, MA, the daughter of Daniel and Julia (Staunton) Baker.  She entered the Sisters of Charity on September 7, 1937 and was a member for 72 years.

Sister Mary Helen was an educator in New Jersey.  She served as a teacher at St. Aloysius Parochial School, Jersey City from 1938 to 1955.  She served as teacher/Principal at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, East Orange from 1955 to 1961 and teacher/Vice Principal at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Ridgewood from 1961 to 1968.  She taught at Sacred Heart Elementary School, Rochelle Park from 1968 to 1970; St. Paul Elementary School, Ramsey from 1970 to 1973 and 1974 to 1988; St. Brendan, Clifton from 1973 to 1974; and St. Paul Elementary School, Clifton from 1988 to 1992 while teaching part time at St. Paul School Interparochial, Ramsey from 1990 to 1992.  She served as Pastoral Assistant at St. Paul Parish, Ramsey from 1992 to 1995 and companion /office assistant at St. Anne Villa, Convent Station from 1995 to 2003. Sister Mary Helen also served as a volunteer at Convent of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station from 2003 to 2004 before retiring to St. Anne Villa, Convent Station where she resided until her death.  Sister Mary Helen Baker received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.

She is survived by a sister Teresa Richards, Walpole, MA and two brothers John Baker, Needham, MA and James Baker, Dayton Beach, FL, a sister-in-law Vivian Baker, Centerville, MA.

The wake for Sister Helen Margaret will be held in Saint Anne Villa, Convent Station, NJ from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 6:00 p.m. Burial will be on Thursday, January 14, 2010 in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station, NJ at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476.