Ilene Kay Baker

After a brave battle with cancer, Ilene Kay Baker, age 73, died peacefully at home in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, November 18th with her husband Don and daughter Rebecca by her side. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother.

Her life began in New York City on October 14, 1945. She was deeply loved by her parents, Toby (Katz) and Seymour Schlossberg and her maternal grandmother, Anna Katz.

Ilene attended P.S.154 elementary school and Parsons Jr. High in New York. The family moved to Southern California in 1960 and Ilene continued her education at U.S. Grant High School, graduating in 1962. Ilene continued to excel in school and earned her Associates of Arts Degree at Santa Monica City College where she received The Woman of the Year Award in recognition of scholastic achievement.

She married Don Baker in 1965, and they celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on October 9th. Ilene also became a loving mother to her daughter Rebecca in 1973.

She had the entrepreneurship spirit in her early years. She and her husband, Don, owned Challenger Party Sales (Wholesale Tupperware Distributorship) for 20 years in New Jersey. They returned to Southern California and she started working with Weekenders (Women’s Clothing) as a Director of Sales for 5 years. Her territory included Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Northern California. After Weekenders, Ilene had another successful career with Jewels by Park Lane. Ilene loved a challenge and was a great motivator. She loved holding parties and sharing the opportunities for women to earn income.

Don and Ilene retired to Las Vegas in 2002. They enjoyed traveling and cruises to places like Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean but loved to visit their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Sara and Cole, in Rhode Island during the holidays.

Ilene was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas, and enjoyed attending the Sunday services and the women’s bible studies.

Ilene was an active member of the Las Vegas Mesquite Club, the oldest social and charitable women’s club in Nevada established in 1911. She served as President and held several offices. She was nominated and elected to serve as Second Vice President for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Nevada (GFWC) in 2015.

Don and Ilene shared a wonderful loving relationship for 53 years. He was always so proud of her. She will be missed by many friends and family. She is survived by her husband, Don, daughter, Rebecca (Jeff) Collemer, grandchildren, Sara and Cole, sister, Janis (Bob) Rink, two nieces, Anna Luehrs and Carol Adkisson, two grand nephews and one grandniece, and step son Donny Baker.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10am at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas.

Donations can be made in Ilene’s memory to the Cancer Research Institute at www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate or Grace Presbyterian Church.