Judith Baker

Judith Marie (Smolinski) Baker passed away quietly at her home on Wednesday, October 19th. Born on January 5th, 1947 in Rogers City, Michigan, she was the eldest child of the late Robert and Carol (Olsen) Smolinski. Judy was a professional chef, having graduated from the culinary arts program at LSSC. While she worked at several restaurants across the country, she was best known for her many years as a head chef at the former Park Gardens Café in Petoskey. She was also well-known for her catering, providing amazing food for dozens of large and small events. In her younger years, she took pleasure in many outdoor activities including camping and archery, or simply walking in the woods and enjoying nature. Later in life, you could often find her down at the mouth of the Bear River chatting with the fishermen. Her other interests include reading, collecting antiques and watching sports. Her greatest joys, however, came from her family and friends. In particular, she was a very proud mother to her two sons Marc and Jesse, and loving grandmother to her grandson Eli and her step-grandson Jordan. She was also a beloved “Aunt Judy” to many nephews and nieces. Judy will be most remembered for her endless generosity and unwavering devotion to everyone she knew. Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, she gave everything of herself and often more while never asking for anything in return. Despite her own health issues, she cared for both of her parents before they passed, and lived independently until the end. She is survived by her siblings Craig and his wife Harriet, Jeannie Mandeville and her husband Brian, and Leon and his wife Dorothy. She was preceded in death by her former husband Jim Baker.