SCARBOROUGH/ formerly of Lisbon/South Portland – Laraine (Haney) Baker, age 81, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2024, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House after fighting a courageous battle against vascular disease, COPD, Colon Cancer, and other health issues. She was born in Portland, Maine, on May 29, 1942, the daughter of the late Paul and Marjorie (Whitten) Haney. She grew up in South Portland and graduated from South Portland High School in 1960. Laraine worked for a few years as a nurse’s aide at Maine Medical Center until her marriage and the birth of her two sons.
After her divorce, she worked at Fairchild for a few years and then moved on to a career in retail sales, beginning with Kmart and Service Merchandise. As a single mother, she devoted herself to her sons and worked hard to give them the best life possible. She retired to live in Lisbon and made many friends with her neighbors and with folks who worked in the local Lisbon area shopping centers.
As Laraine began her final journey in January, she realized that she had not articulated as often as she should have her love for family and friends. She really began to tell one and all that she loved them and repeated that fact over and over again. Her last days were filled with love.
She was predeceased by her brother, David J. Haney, Sr., on May 19, 2009. She is survived by her beloved sons: Mark Baker, of South Portland; Paul (Penny) Baker of Bowdoin; four grandchildren – Nicholas of Portland, Kyle of Biddeford, Ethan of Bowdoin, and Billy of Lisbon – her sisters, Paula Johnson of South Portland, Sharon Bash of Arlington, VA, Kathleen Libby of Phoenix, AZ, and her brother, Michael (Gloria) Haney, Sr. of Phoenix, AZ – plus nieces, Leigh Anne (Eugene) Longobardi, Rhonda (Robert) Wimer, Wanda (Scott) Binette, Marjorie Haney, Melissa Libby, Gloria (Tyler) Poppas, and nephews, Todd Libby, Michael Haney, Jr., David Haney, Jr., and Darrin Bash.
A private celebration of life with family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Laraine’s name to: Hospice of Southern Maine, 390 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074-9928.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com