Rita Ann Baker

Rita Ann Baker (Strojny) peacefully passed to her heavenly home on November 7th 2025 at the age of 95. She was born on July 26th 1930, the youngest of nine children of Valentine (Walenty) and Viola Strojny who were immigrants from Poland. She grew up on Agnes Street, in the heart of the Polish neighborhood of Rochester. Her parents instilled a very devout Catholic faith to young Rita and her other 8 siblings. She received her sacraments and attended grade school at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. She later graduated from St. Joseph's School of Business.

Rita married John Joseph Baker on April 26th, 1952 and when he was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps they built a home together on Peck Road in Hilton.

She was a devoted mother of five children: John Michael (wife Barbara), Kathleen Ann (husband David) Ames, Deborah Marie (husband Wesley R. Jr.) Proctor, Paul Lawrence (wife Cindy), and Lorraine Marie (husband Dan) Hayward.

She was blessed with 16 beautiful grandchildren: Zachary, John H. Baker; Jamie (husband Jason) Jansen, Sean, Lindsey (husband Andrew) Villa, Cory (wife Caitlin), Mason (Jenn) Ames; John David (wife Christine) Proctor, Stefanie (husband Elliot) Murrer; Paul (wife Hanako), Jordan (wife Kristy) Baker, Michelle (husband Mark) Curran; Amanda (husband Ryan) Wegman, Kyle (Lea), Aaron (wife Kourtni) Hayward and Leia (husband Ryan) Streb.

She was further blessed with 14 equally-beautiful great-grandchildren: Sophia, Tyler Jansen, Ford Ames; Issaiah, Ann Marie Proctor, Briar, Shiloh Murrer; Leilani Baker, Jenna, Forrest Baker, Bryce Wood; Madelyn, McKenna Wegman and Savannah Hayward.

Rita also leaves behind many Nieces and Nephews who loved her as dearly as she loved them.

Rita retired from General Motors, Rochester Products after over 20 years assembling automobile carburators. Upon retirement, she remained active doing volunteer work at St. Peter's Kitchen in Rochester. She was a proud booster of her grandchildren's sporting events, dance recitals and plays.

Rita and her family were founding parishoners of St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church in North Greece and she was an active member of the parish Holy Rosary Society. She regularly and cheerfully volunteered her time to clean the church, wrap giving tree holiday Christmas presents, change out the old Sunday Missals, and help serve in the kitchen after Funeral Masses.

Following the death of her husband John in 2000, she traveled to Italy on a pilgrimage during that Jubilee Year, where she toured several Catholic sites throughout the country; such as the Duomo in Milan, the Shroud of Turin, St. Anthony's Cathedral in Padua, the Tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, the Duomo in Florence, and several major churches in Rome (receiving plenary indulgences). Her highlight on the trip was attending the weekly audience by Saint Pope John Paul II where she could have touched him while passing by in his Popemobile on the Plaza of St. Peter's.

Rita found joy in life's simple pleasures; baking holiday goodies, playing quite a competitive game of Skat with family, bowling, and cheering on her favorite football team; the Buffalo Bills (win or lose). Above all else her greatest joy was her family – the center of her social world. Her loving heart and spirit will be deeply missed by family and all others who knew her.

Rest in Peace, Rita . . . Momma. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and your memory will live on in the lives of those you loved and inspired.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 from 4 to 6 pm at the Greece Chapel of Vay -Schleich & Meeson Funeral Home, 1075 Long Pond Road. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Thursday, November 13th at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church on 1000 N. Greece Road, followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to House of Mercy or Open Missions.

Prayers, thoughts and reminicences on this website page are encouraged and greatly appreciated.