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Obituary
Loretta "Nanny" Baker, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, born on October 24, 1931, in Oak Pointe, West Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on May 20, 2025, in Inkster, Michigan, at the age of 93. Her life was a testament to love, resilience, and a spirit that inspired everyone she met.
Loretta dedicated her life to being a devoted homemaker and mother, roles in which she found immense joy and fulfillment. Her family was the center of her world, and she cherished every moment spent with them.
Loretta's passion for life extended far beyond her home. She was a remarkable competitor, proudly winning medals in the Senior Olympics and earning the title of Cornhole Champion. Her zest for life also shone through her participation in the Senior Bowling League, where her jovial spirit inspired all who bowled alongside her. She also loved crafting, a hobby through which she expressed her creativity and shared her love with those around her.
Loretta had a passion for life's simple pleasures, from playing rummy with her family to attending the Michigan State Fair and local carnivals. Her love for people was evident in her interactions, as she touched countless lives with her kindness and compassion.
Loretta's medical journey was an inspiring testament to her resilience, as she became the longest living liver transplant patient at the University of Michigan Hospital, celebrating 30 years of renewed life. Her journey was one of courage and determination, serving as an inspiration to all who knew her.
Loretta was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lewis Baker, her parents, Frank and Nancy Merceda May. Loretta's 14 siblings have also gone before her, enriching the heavens with their presence.
She leaves behind a legacy of love through her surviving family: her children, Janet Lewis of Garden City, MI; Terri (Murph) Clem of Westland, MI; Robert (Daria) Baker of Garden City, MI; Larry (Linda) Baker of Franklin, TN; Mary Baker of Garden City, MI; Lisa Baker of Inkster, MI; Greg Baker of Dearborn Heights, MI; Stepmother to Jimmy Baker, Ypsilanti, MI
Her grandchildren, Jamie Baker (Sara) of Trenton, MI; Stephen Baker (Clancy) of Taylor, MI; Katie (Nick) Picciuto of Nolensville, TN; and Jake (Emily) Baker of Nashville, TN, adored their Nanny, who instilled in them the values of love and perseverance. Her great-granddaughter, Avalon Picciuto, will carry forward Loretta’s legacy of joy and strength and will grow up hearing stories of her remarkable great-grandmother's love and legacy.
Her life was a beautiful tapestry woven with love, laughter, and unwavering strength. Her memory will forever be cherished by her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her.
A celebration of Loretta’s life will be held at the Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Flat Rock, MI, where family and friends will gather to honor a life well-lived and a woman deeply loved.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UMHealth Research.
