Joanne Baker

Joanne K. Baker, of Ottawa passed away Monday, February 16, 2015. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, February 21, 2015 at St. Patrick's Church with Father Tony K. Fevlo officiating. Visitation will be Friday, February 20, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Ottawa Funeral Home. Prayers will be at 3:45 pm on Friday with the Catholic Daughters in attendance. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery. Joanne was born March 26, 1944 in Ottawa, Illinois to Vincent and Rose Angela (McGinnis) Aubry. She married James "Jim" Baker September 26, 1964 at St. Joseph's Church in Marseilles. She was the Vice President of Operations at Ottawa National / Union Bank. She was a past president for several organizations including the Ottawa Chapters of Business & Professional Womens Club (BPW), Zonta, and the Illinois Bankers Association of LaSalle County. She was a founding member of Ottawa's 911 board, past treasurer for Waltham Township School and an active member of the University of Illinois Country Home Extension. Joanne was passionate about many causes serving on the scholarship committee for BPW, as a volunteer advocate for Domestic Violence in LaSalle County, and served the Catholic Daughter's of the Americas. She also developed and oversaw the creation of the accounting services for Marquette High School's May Merriment and worked as an Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman, providing banking services for the elderly. She is survived by her husband, Jim; son, Curt Baker; sister, Sharon (Larry) Perkins; of Neponset, and brothers, Ray (Rosemarie) Aubry, Dennis Aubry, both of Ottawa, Emmett (Sue) Aubry, of Spicewood Texas and Chuck (Pam) Aubry. of Gibson City. She is preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Patrick Aubry. Pallbearers will be Brian, Jeff, Timothy, Jason, and Matthew Aubry, and David Perkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Kyle, Kent, Jared, and Christopher Aubry, and Anthony Perkins. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Family Fund.