MARY SCHMIDT
Dec. 26, 1926 – April 8th, 2020
Mary Schmidt (Toews)
It is with both profound sadness and gratefulness for her love, that we the family of Mary Schmidt announce her passing on April 8, 2020 in Tofield, Alberta.
Mom passed away peacefully after hearing the voices of her children and hearing many of the hymns she dearly loved.
Mom is lovingly remembered by her 3 children and their families:
Daughter Evelyn and Peter Bartel (Ryan and Erinne, Jasper & Kagan) (Mark and Lisa, Logan, Sydney & Justin)
(Kenton and Sarah)
Daughter Irene and Ken Froese (Nathan and Brieanne, Shaeley, Gavin and Avery) (Kerri and Trevor, Adam)
(Karla Neufeld)
(Nolan and Madison, Aubrey)
Son Gordon and Monica. (Lauren and Justin Lungal, Walker & Dayton) (Jordyn and Miles Pennington, Cardin & Tayla)
(Alayna) (Landon)
She is also remembered by her special cousin Ann Neufeld.
Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband David, brother and sister Abraham Toews and Sara Zweigert and step sister Lucy Benko.
Mary was born in the Ukraine in 1926 and after living through many hardships of WWII, at the age of 21, mom was invited to Tofield, Alberta to be a “daughter” of her uncle and aunt Jacob and Elizabeth Kliewer. This wonderful relationship provided mom with roots in Canada, and she went on to study English, make friends and marry our dad. This security allowed her to flourish and enjoy life. The Schmidt family proved to be a large family who embraced her, and for this she was ever so grateful.
Together, Mom and Dad farmed south of Tofield; this was an enjoyable career for them and proved to be a wonderful rural setting for our family.
Mom devoted many years volunteering: selling Self Help goods for MCC, working at That Place, and sewing many blankets for MCC. These activities brought her much enjoyment and offered her the opportunity to “give back” to MCC – for it was from MCC that she received a care parcel while in Germany during WWII.
After being separated from her family for 43 years, she was reunited with them after they immigrated from the Soviet Union to Germany. The four trips mom and dad made to Germany, allowed mom to reconnect and celebrate her family.
Mom was fully devoted to our dad and our whole family where each new member of the family was celebrated and treasured. She considered her greatest joy to be her enduring and unfailing faith in God.
Mom enjoyed good health and vitality her whole life. As her health waned, she appreciated the care and support she received at the Tofield Lodge, from Tofield Home Care and at the Tofield Long Term Care. We thank you for your kindness and exemplary care for mom.
On April 11, 2020 we met over Zoom and with Rev Adam Hall leading, we remembered and celebrated the life and faith of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Interment of ashes will be at a future date when the family will gather to celebrate mom’s life. Donations would be gratefully accepted for MCC and the Tofield Handivan Society