Anna-Marie Baum

Anna-Marie Baum was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 10, 1949 to Alex and Marie (Trost) Baum.

Her father left the family when Anne was 4.

Anna-Marie and her mother moved to Salt Lake City in 1984. Anna-Marie and her mother were inseparable and relied and depended on each other until her mother passed away in October 1992.

 At that time, with the help of friends and church members, she began living with her longtime roommate, Belinda Murray, who she happily lived with until Belinda’s passing in November 2019. Their home visiting teacher, Ms. Nona Miller, was an active part of their lives for decades and remained so with Anna-Marie right up until the day she passed. Belinda’s Aunt Barbara was also an instrumental part of Anna-Marie‘s life and continued visiting her daily.

After Belinda’s passing, Anna-Marie moved to Phillips Plaza in Salt Lake City, where she lived on her own for the first time in her life and resided there until she was hospitalized earlier this year.

Anna-Marie was one of the first individuals in the state of Utah to leave a “sheltered” work environment and work in the community in what, at the time, was a new concept called, “Supported Employment”. She was hired at 7-Eleven and with the support of her long-time boss, Dent, Anna worked there until she retired after 30 years. Anne ran the coffee bar at 7-Eleven.

Upon her retirement, Anna-Marie started attending day programs through TURN Community Services where she loved the various activities that she attended each day of the week, which she was able to access thanks to the courteous and wonderful drivers of Utah’s UTA Flex Trans system.

Staff from Columbus Community Center supported Anne all of her years so that she could live as independently as possible. One of her first staff was Heidi Jentzsch, who helped Anne with supported living. They remained close for the rest of Anne’s life. Anne loved all of her staff from CCC and was thankful for the help she got from them.

She also received support from the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD). Mike Thorpe and Jamie Zayach were her two primary support coordinators who supported and loved her long after they had left their service to the state.

Anna-Marie’s final days were spent at Holladay Healthcare Center, where staff kept her comforted and happy in her final days. Her social worker, Sondi, developed a close relationship with her and stayed with her, comforting her, until she passed. Anna also received services from her hospice nurse, Char, and numerous CNA‘s who helped her in her final days. Anna also had assistance from the Office of Public Guardian through Melanie Stewart.

Anna made friends wherever she went and was loved by all. She loved Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and loved collecting Mickey and Minnie stuffed animals. She will be missed for her many artistic gifts that she gave over the years, including numerous latch hook gifts and “diamond dot” pictures, which she loved to create.

Anna-Marie leaves behind no living relatives, but she does leave a large family of friends and caregivers who have loved her for decades, and who deeply lament her passing.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State Street, Midvale. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 14th at 11:00 AM with a viewing one hour prior also at Goff Mortuary. Interment to follow at Salt Lake City Cemetery.