Funeral services for Velma Lenore Baines will be held noon Tuesday, May 12, at the First Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life will be 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the ANB Founders Hall.
Velma died May 2 in Sitka, at the age of 90.
She was born Dec. 4, 1924, in Port Simpson, British Columbia, the daughter of Joshua and Alice Rose Ryan. She grew up there, and married Conrad Paul Baines in Metlakatla in 1949. They came to Sitka in the early 1950s.
A cook, Velma worked at Sheldon Jackson and then at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital for 42 years, retiring at age 82.
Velma loved the outdoors, enjoying fishing and berry-picking. Her hobbies included cake baking, canning and jarring traditional foods, reading, knitting and spending as much time as she could with her family.
She also loved sports of all kinds, baseball and the Seattle Mariners in particular. When she traveled, she tried to squeeze in games – the San Diego Padres, Log Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Lakers, for example.
She was a lifelong member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, American Legion Auxiliary and the Presbyterian Church, which she served as a deacon.
In describing Velma, her family quoted Proverbs 31: 26-27: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
“The Baines family would like to share in the celebration of the life of our beloved mother Velma Lenore Baines,” they wrote. “Though we collectively and individually mourn her loss, we want to acknowledge and give reverence to her accomplishments and all that Mom stood for as a parent, as a worker, and a spiritual leader.
“Above all else, Mom stood for love, especially for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and for her lifelong partner Conrad Baines Sr., who preceded Mom in their journey to meet our Lord.”
Also preceding her in death were her brother, Stewart Ryan; sons Conrad Paul Baines Jr. and Daniel Richard Baines; and grandchildren Alicia Kirsten Baines and Richard Conrad Baines.
She is survived by her sisters Bernice Pilfold, Margaret Kelly, and Janet; sons Ronald Earl Baines, Frank Edward Baines, Terry Kevin Baines, Michael Allen Baines, and Robert Steven Baines; and daughters Betty Ann Baines, and Barbara Mary Baines.
Her grandchildren are Valerie Dodson, Aaron Baines, Teresa Lynn Baines, Kari Baines, Christopher Brandon Baines, Dustin Baines, Darren Baines, Joel Baines and Everette Baines; and her great-grandchildren are Devan Dodson, Kaycie Carter, and Kamryn Dodson, Jada Healy, Karissa Healy, Zoe Healy, Lucifer Aries Baines, Henry Baines, Owen Baines, Danny Baines, Judah Baines and Christine Baines.
Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Memorial donations may be made to Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4, and the First Presbyterian Church of Sitka.
