DORES DUTRA BAKER

Dores Dutra Baker, wife of Howard Warren Baker (1929-2007), died peacefully in her sleep on April 27, 2022 in Mission Hills after a brief illness. She is survived by her sons Rex and Clark, daughter Arlinda, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and thousands of other lives that were touched by her grace, humor, love, and generosity. "Mom" was born January 10, 1925 in Porto Alegre, Brazil to Alfred Walter Gretzschel (1895-1973) and Arlinda da Silveira (1900-1980). Mom traveled to Berlin with her father in 1927 but returned to Porto Alegre with her aunt and uncle in 1932 when Socialists terrorized Germans who refused to join their political party. Back in Porto Alegre, Mom worked their garden, dressed chickens and completed school before becoming one of Brazil's first airline stewardesses, flying DC3s between Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro. In 1956, after managing a successful business in Rio, Mom traveled to Miami and headed for NYC. Torrential rains redirected her to Los Angeles. While waitressing for tips in Reseda, she met dad, married, and raised us kids in that middle class paradise. Mom later moved to Laurel Canyon with her son and spent the next 20+ years enjoying roadtrips, plays, concerts, ballet, music, and food with her dearest friends and family. Dores was a wonderful wife, mother, grand- and great-grandmother, Christian, and friend to thousands who were always warmed by her presence.