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Sister Ann Regina Baker, OP

Sister Ann Regina's Services

Visitors are welcome; masks required.

Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704

Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant.

Funeral Mass live stream link

Burial: Roselawn Memorial Cemetery, 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 19.

Livestream on Facebook.

Springfield Dominican Sister Ann Regina Baker died October 14, 2021, at Sacred Heart Convent, in the 83rd year of her religious profession, at the age of 101. She was born in 1920 in Lincoln, Ill., to Daniel and Ada Cain Baker and christened Hazel Eileen.  She made her profession of vows at in 1938, at Sacred Heart Convent.

The scope and depth of Sister Ann Regina’s life of ministry was remarkable and far-reaching. The first thirty years were spent as a music educator, primarily in Chicago, Springfield, and Odell, Ill. After the Second Vatican Council she branched into catechetical ministries, first as religious education coordinator at Holy Angels Aurora, 1970-1978, then as diocesan director of religious education, and assistant director of renewal for the Rockford diocese, where she served in various roles, 1978-1990. In 1982 she completed a doctoral degree in pastoral ministry. In 1998, she returned to Springfield and began a third ministerial phase, providing spiritual direction for her Dominican Sisters and for guests at Benincasa Spiritual Renewal Center, Riverton. Beginning in 2000 she dedicated her days to helping sisters at Sacred Heart Convent deepen their vowed life by providing weekly classes in theology, spirituality, and human development alongside her longtime collaborator Sister Regina Marie Bernet, OP.

Sister Ann Regina was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Kay Baker. She is survived by her nephew Robert “Buzz” (Ellie) Baker, Sugar Pine, Calif., many devoted and loving friends, and Dominican Sisters.

Visitors are welcome; masks required. Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation begins with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., Oct. 18, Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant. Burial: Roselawn Memorial Park, 1 p.m.  Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Mass and graveside services will be livestreamed.

Livestream link for Sister Ann Regina's funeral Mass.

Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Ann Regina may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704

The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Ann Regina are being served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.

9 thoughts on “Sister Ann Regina Baker, OP”

  1. Angelene Biderbost

    She was my talented glee club director at SHA and music director when I was a novice. On moving home to the Motherhouse, I was still “Barb” to her and enjoyed the affectionate use of my own name. Sr. M. Angelene Biderbost

  2. Sr. Ann Regina embraced God’s love with a spirit of JOY and truth for all she ministered her 83 years of dedicated religious living. Her preaching changed my life and her lessons of love will sustain me forever. Bless you in your eternal reward Sister Ann Regina. May the light of your faith legacy live strong in the hearts of all who love you.

  3. I recall joining a group of spiritual directors when I first completed my certification and met Sr. Ann Regina, whose voracious love for reading and learning was remarkable to me. She was always looking for what was emerging in the field of spirituality and was quick to bring those resources to our group. As such, she had a spirit that looked for possibilities of the blessed next that was out there, waiting for us to reach into it and thus, experience new learning and growth. Just like Sr. Melanie Roetker, her love for the new universe story inspired me to learn more about what that was so now, both are soaring in the heavens like comets to take in but a taste of it as beloved proxies for the rest of us!

  4. Mary Beth Abry Keeneth

    Sr. Ann Regina was my piano teacher in Odell! Almost everything I learned about piano I learned from her. I remember being in the National Federation of Student Musicians for six years and having a Silver Cross Recital which was the equivalent of being presented. Because of her, I started teaching piano at fourteen and I taught all through high school and college, and beyond. I am a niece of Sister Mary Leo and I saw Sr. Ann Regina in Springfield and we had a wonderful visit and she was still the same enchanting person. She touched so many lives in Odell and most families have at least one who learned piano or voice because of the talented Sr. Ann Regina. Now she is in heaven singing with the angels. God bless you, Sr. Ann Regina!

  5. Sr Ann Regina shared incredible wisdom and faith combined with a mind that never stopped learning or teaching. She was such a gift to my vocation and everyone who she encountered in the Rockford Diocese. I treasured my last visit with her. She’s a one and only. May she Rest In Peace.

  6. What an incredible person! Met her when she was appointed associate director for RENEW in the Rockford Diocese. We became close friends. What a blessing in my life and the lives.of my wife and parents. Spread joy wherever she went. So grateful the Spirit chose to manifest itself in her. A life truly well lived. Bless you, Ann.

  7. I came upon this news quite accidentally, but it brought back wonderful memories. I met Sr Ann when she visited her Mother, Ada Moos, in Santa Cruz, Calif. From that first visit I was inspired by her and looked forward to the next time I would see her. I was so excited by the possibilities for leadership by women in our church, something I couldn’t visualize before meeting Sr Ann!

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