Obituary of Patricia E. Baer

Patricia E. Peterson Baer, 84 of Erie, unexpectedly passed away at her home on Sunday August 28, 2016. She was born on August 19, 1932, in Erie, the daughter of the late Carl and Georgina “Jean” Peterson. Pat graduated from Academy High School in 1950. On December 2, 1950 she married her husband, Don, and fulfilled her lifetime dream of being a wife and devoted mother. Pat worked alongside her husband, Don, at their business “Baer’s Trailer Sales” on West 26th and Peninsula Dr. in Millcreek Twp. She enjoyed working for many years on her high school class reunion committee for the class of 1950. She was an avid knitter, making Christmas stockings for many of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and close friends of the family. Her grandchildren will always remember grandma for having a Kleenex tissue up her sleeve, ready to be pulled out to wipe a nose, a tear, or dirt on their faces. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Brian Reed; sister, Marilyn Taylor; brother, Carl “Bud” Peterson Jr., and a nephew Terry Peterson. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Donald C. Baer, Sr., four daughters, Connie (Dean) Reed of Greer, SC, Dianne Collier of Jacksonville, FL, Carol (Peter) Bell of Barrington, RI, and Susan (John) DeFazio of Erie, two sons; Donald, Jr. (Tanya) Baer of Goochland, VA and Scott (Sarah) Baer of Barrington, RI, grandchildren: Timothy (Lisa) Schaefer, Erin (Amy) Schaefer, Nicholas Reed, Ryan (Keziah) Collier, Allyn (Jonathan) Byrd, Michael and Audrey Bell, Michelle, Stephanie, Oliver, Matson and Molly Baer, Brynn Lipira, Ian, Trevor and Rory DeFazio, and Johnathan and Michaela Baer, great-grandchildren; Christopher Mukina, TJ Schaefer, Malachi Schaefer, and Charlotte Collier. Pat is further survived by a brother-in-law, Robert (Christie) Baer, two sisters-in-law; Betty Jane Baer and Kathleen Baer, and many nieces and nephews. Per Pat’s wishes there will be no calling hours, but a memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 1603 West 32nd St. Erie, PA 16508. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northwestern PA, 110 West 10th St. Erie, PA 16501. Arrangements are under the care of the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. 4216 Sterrettania Rd. Erie, PA 16506.