Worcester--Princess Winona P. (Harmon) Baroni , 91, of Worcester, died Tuesday, January 28, in the Worcester Medical Center. She leaves 4 sons, Gilbert A.A.( Whirling Star) Hendrickson, Jr., of Worcester; Paul E. (Sam One Bull) Fadden of Auburn; Glen R. (Silver Wolf) Feszchur of Long Island, N.Y; and John (Strong Heart) Powers of Sterling; 4 daughters, June W. (Little Winona) Hendrickson of Worcester; Carole (Bright Eyes) Moreau of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Louise (Coon Kitten) Ohrn of Gilbertsville; and Barbara (Cedar Woman) Brewer of Leominster; nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Her first husband, Gilbert A. Hendrickson, Sr., died in 1990. Her second husband, Charles Baroni, 2 brothers, Vernon and Vance Harmon; and a sister, Winifred (Princess Quaquella) Hendrickson, also predeceased her.
Mrs. Baroni was born in Lisbon Falls, Maine, daughter of Purlie E. and Helena A. (Maines) Hendrickson and moved to Worcester in 1929. Princess Winona was of the Wyandott, Passamaquoddy, and Androscoggin Tribes of Maine.
She was a seamstress at West End Thread Mill of Millbury and the former Paul Hats Company, Worcester. For 20 years she published the Annual Calendar of Indian Social Events. She was still working at the Quinsigamond Village Community Center, teaching Native American crafts, culture and traditions. She also gave presentations of Indian Culture to various high schools--most recently at Blackstone Valley High School in Upton.Princess Winona was an Honorary Member of the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Tribes. She was a founder of the Indian Cultural Art Lodge of Worcester, Clan Mother of the Wollomonopaugg Indian Council, was Clan Mother of The Worcester Inter-Tribal Indian Center, a member of the Walking Bear Singers, Sachem of the American Indian Federation of Layfayette, R.I., a founder and Charter Member of The American Indianist Society. She was a member of the Dighton Inter-Tribal Indian Council Oak, the New England Native American Institute, the United Native American Cultural Center, the Laconia Indian Historical Association, and the Greater Lowell Indian Cultural Association. She was one of four Women honored to be members of The Helushka War Dance Society and was a Gourd Dance Lady. In 1979 she started the Annual Sterling Springs Powwow held on the Father’s Day Weekend. She attended many Powwows and Native American functions throughout the years and was an avid traveler.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, February 3, at 1 PM in Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Howard Street Cemetery, Sutton in the spring. Calling hours will be Sunday, Feb. 3, 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm in Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Quinsigamond Village Community Center, 16 Greenwood Street, Worcester, MA 01607.