BAKER, Sharon June

Sharon June Baker, age 63, passed away peacefully after a long struggle with cancer on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at the Markham Stouffville Hospital in Markham, Ontario. She was born July 14, 1954 in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to the late Garth Baker and June (Barkhouse) Richardson. Sharon was 1972 graduate of Hebbville High School and started her career with the Bank of Nova Scotia in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Shortly after the birth of her only child, Sharon would move to Calgary, Alberta, where she joined the Canada Permanent Trust Company and would continue her career in banking with CT Securities Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. By 1995, Sharon had tired of the Bay Street "rat race" and would spend the remainder of her working days doing jobs she enjoyed. She loved to cook, and so her interests gravitated towards the food service industry. She would become a coffee shop owner some years later, which was a very proud point in her life, and continued to work in this field until her cancer diagnosis forced her to stop working altogether. Sharon fought her disease for two and-a-half years, facing each day with grit and determination, and a focus on enjoying the small quality moments in life. As an example, one of her last excursions was to the Art Gallery of Ontario where she sat for house gazing at the many Group of Seven paintings that are displayed. She favoured those paintings of water and shoreline, because the mood reminded her of growing up on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Sharon is survived by her stepmother Evelyn Baker, whom she dearly loved; mother June; daughter Michelle Dalton; son-in-law Massimo Perricone; granddaughters Theadora and Alexandra Perricone; sister Dianne (Lloyd) Swinemar; brothers Alan (Jill) Baker and Douglas (Janice) Baker; stepsisters Julia (Kenneth) Wamboldt, and Susan Baker; along with many nieces and nephews. She was an especially proud Oma to Theadora and Alexandra, and her smile and delight when able to spend time with her granddaughters would brighten up the room. They gave her added joy and focus on life. A very special thanks to the staff at the Markham Stouffville Palliative Care Center, who took such wonderful care of Sharon in her final months and days. Sharon's wishes were simple, and requested there be no service. Therefore, the family would ask that any memorials be made in her name to the Canadian Cancer Society, in the hope that some day, there will be a cure for this cruel disease.