Tribute

Barbara Janice Schmidt passed away peacefully from natural causes at home in Vernon, BC, on Friday, June 26, 2020, at the age of 94. ‘Mom’, as she has always been to her children and to many others, was born on February 19, 1926, in Edmonton, Alberta, to Nellie Belle (Sieg) and Raymond Mitchell Shuck.

Our beautiful mother, grandmother and great grandmother led an amazing life. She was raised on a farm in Rochfort Bridge, northwest of Edmonton, where the seeds of Christian Charity were planted and nurtured. After graduating grade 13, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Jalna, Alberta, and then attended the Banff School of Fine Arts where she furthered her natural artistic talent. She moved to California in 1948, where she met her husband, Clement August Schmidt, while singing together in the church choir at St. Elizabeth’s, Oakland. Married in June 1949, Mom and Dad built a wonderful life together in San Lorenzo attending and actively involved in St. John the Baptist Church and the wider community. In 1964, after Dad’s death due to complications of Multiple Sclerosis, our brave Mom packed her little family up and moved back to the Alberta homestead and, with the help of God, raised her family while caring for her aging father. She and any available piano were often at the centre of small and large gatherings of family and friends,and she played the organ during Sunday Masses at St. Theresa’s church, Sangudo. In 1975, Mom “retired” to the west coast, settling in Saltery Bay, BC, where she enjoyed a few well deserved years of peace and quiet and simple leisure. In 1980, she moved to Powell River, where she spent the next 14 years devoting her herself to caring for the priests assigned to the Assumption Catholic Parish. In 1994, she “retired” once more, this time to enjoy her love and passion creating artwork and crafts meant for the annual parish bazaar, sharing her musical talent at the organ for the church choir, and at the piano during weekly visits to the local seniors residences. A stroke in 2006 curbed her activities somewhat, but she never lost her sense of humor or her determination. Following her stroke, Mom divided her time between the Powell River and Mission, BC, homes of her two daughters, Anne and Nanette, and their husbands, Doug and Blair, who rallied around her to ensure she continued to have the comforts of a loving family home. Mom spent her seven final years with Nanette and Blair in Vernon, BC. Those years were also greatly blessed by those who did so much to ensure this continued: the doctors and dentist, nurses, BC Interior Health and the Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) program, and many others! So many things were done by others for Mom that were indeed blessings and she was able to die peacefully (not, thankfully, due to COVID-19), still enjoying life at home with family, nurses, pets, gardening, art, Star Trek and other favorite programs, and music.

Mom’s family meant everything to her and she was devoted to us. Predeceased by her parents, her sisters, Winnie, Hilda and Rowena, her brother, Bruce, and her dear husband Clem, she leaves to mourn her children, John (Wendy), Raymond (Evelyn), David (Carol), Anne Marie (Doug), Nanette (Blair), grandchildren Geoffrey (Natalie) and Michelle (Kert); Adrienne and Nathan (Nicole); Warren, Deanna (Tyler) and Eric (Chelsea); Theresa (Kevin), Sarah and Matthew; and Graham and Corinne; great grandchildren Linden, Dane, Kaleb, Emmi, Molly, Liam, Declan, Eben, Andee, Hudson and Bensen; and the many loving nieces and nephews and their families, all of whom she cherished.

Mom did countless things for us throughout her life that that were blessings in their own right. Mom also touched the hearts of many people, always advocating for the lonely and downtrodden, and was an unofficial adopted Mom/Grandma to many. She was always there to lend an ear, a hug, a hand or a prayer … and sometimes even some tough love.

Prayers and visitation will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2020, at The Church of the Assumption in Powell River, BC. Mass of Christian Burial will be held there at 11:00 a.m. on July 21st, concelebrated by Fathers Warren Schmidt and Patrick Tepoorten. A memorial Mass will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23rd, by Fr. Bruce-John Hamilton at Corpus Christi Parish in Vancouver, with Fr. Wilfred Gomes saying graveside prayers and laying Mom’s ashes to rest with her mother, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, BC, at 1:30. In-person attendance at the funeral, memorial Mass and burial will be by invitation only, but virtual attendance via live stream will be available to those who indicate their wish to participate by email to bjsthe.red91@gmail.com.

We are deeply grateful to everyone for their friendship, love and care of Mom through the years, especially those who made it possible for her to remain at home until her death, and for all the messages of condolence we have received since her passing. We also thank Joanne and Pat at Stubberfields Funeral Home for their great personal and professional care.

In lieu of flowers, donations in our dear Mom’s memory can be made to Covenant House Vancouver, EWTN, or Priests for Life Canada.

“We have loved her during life, let us not abandon her, until we have conducted her by our
prayers into the house of the Lord”. By your charity, please pray for the repose of Mom’s soul.

Rest in peace, darling Momma.