Kristin Baker Memorial Fund
Donation protected
It is with broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Kristin Leigh Baker (nee Brunsdale) on February 20, 2021, due to complications from ovarian cancer at Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital, with her devoted husband at her side.
Left to mourn the loss of Kristin are her husband Charles of 15 years; her son, and the reason her heart beats, Joshua Arthur Vernon Baker (11). Kristin will be missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her.
Kristin never stopped short of reaching higher expectations in life despite many hurdles along the way and by doing so, she encouraged others to follow her example and their dreams. She achieved success as an Accredited Music Therapist, graduated with her Masters of Applied Disability Studies, Specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis, and was also accepted into the Doctor of Education (EdD) program.
Where many saw disabilities, she not only saw abilities, but she nurtured those abilities so that others would also see abilities.
Kristin operated Vibrance Music Therapy as a sole proprietor, and partnered with her mentor, the late Jean Biller, operating Niagara Music Therapy. She also worked with and in many community special needs organizations, including but not limited to: Community Care Access Centre, Brain Injury Community Re-Entry Niagara, Niagara Children’s Centre School, Pathstone Mental Health, and Bethesda Niagara Community Autism Services. In August 2016, Kristin started work with the Niagara Catholic District School Board as an Applied Behaviour Analysis Supervisor.
Her involvement and employment with these organizations were more than just jobs; they were her passions. Her commitment and dedication to her colleagues, students and their families, was luminous as was evidenced by the never-ending outpouring of acknowledgement, appreciation, and praise that she received by everyone whose life she touched.
In her memory, the family requests that contributions be made to the benefit of her son, Joshua, and to he Niagara Foundation for Catholic Education, (NCDSB) towards the establishment of rewards, scholarships, and bursaries to be awarded to staff and special needs students, and to fund programming for complex special needs students.
For those who are wondering why such a high goal, it is my hope that enough funds can be raised to allow for multiple programs for complex needs students similar to my wife's production of "Jungle Jamboree" which premiered with a Red Carpet Event on June 5, 2018 at St. Michael Catholic High School in Niagara Falls.
"No one gets to tell you
How to live.
No one gets to tell you
That you don’t belong here
And no one gets to tell you
That you don’t belong there.
The truth is, go ahead and fly
Because you belong everywhere,
You belong everywhere,
You belong everywhere."
~ Kristin Baker ~
DIVA OUT!
Left to mourn the loss of Kristin are her husband Charles of 15 years; her son, and the reason her heart beats, Joshua Arthur Vernon Baker (11). Kristin will be missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her.
Kristin never stopped short of reaching higher expectations in life despite many hurdles along the way and by doing so, she encouraged others to follow her example and their dreams. She achieved success as an Accredited Music Therapist, graduated with her Masters of Applied Disability Studies, Specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis, and was also accepted into the Doctor of Education (EdD) program.
Where many saw disabilities, she not only saw abilities, but she nurtured those abilities so that others would also see abilities.
Kristin operated Vibrance Music Therapy as a sole proprietor, and partnered with her mentor, the late Jean Biller, operating Niagara Music Therapy. She also worked with and in many community special needs organizations, including but not limited to: Community Care Access Centre, Brain Injury Community Re-Entry Niagara, Niagara Children’s Centre School, Pathstone Mental Health, and Bethesda Niagara Community Autism Services. In August 2016, Kristin started work with the Niagara Catholic District School Board as an Applied Behaviour Analysis Supervisor.
Her involvement and employment with these organizations were more than just jobs; they were her passions. Her commitment and dedication to her colleagues, students and their families, was luminous as was evidenced by the never-ending outpouring of acknowledgement, appreciation, and praise that she received by everyone whose life she touched.
In her memory, the family requests that contributions be made to the benefit of her son, Joshua, and to he Niagara Foundation for Catholic Education, (NCDSB) towards the establishment of rewards, scholarships, and bursaries to be awarded to staff and special needs students, and to fund programming for complex special needs students.
For those who are wondering why such a high goal, it is my hope that enough funds can be raised to allow for multiple programs for complex needs students similar to my wife's production of "Jungle Jamboree" which premiered with a Red Carpet Event on June 5, 2018 at St. Michael Catholic High School in Niagara Falls.
"No one gets to tell you
How to live.
No one gets to tell you
That you don’t belong here
And no one gets to tell you
That you don’t belong there.
The truth is, go ahead and fly
Because you belong everywhere,
You belong everywhere,
You belong everywhere."
~ Kristin Baker ~
DIVA OUT!
Organizer
Charles Baker
Organizer
Niagara Falls, ON