On February 4, 2023 our dear mother passed away a few weeks following her 92nd birthday. She lived a full life and was ready to join her loved ones whom she dearly missed.
Mary was born on January 14, 1931 in Wadena Saskatchewan, the eleventh child of Herman and Helena Klassen. In 1942 the family decided to move to British Columbia. Mary and her older sister Helen caught a train for the journey while the rest of the family followed by car. The family purchased a farm on Ross Road and it was while living here that Mary met her beloved husband, David Schmidt.
On October 31, 1954 Mary and Dave were married in the Ross Road Community church where mom was still a member. Together they moved to a dairy farm on Mt. Lehman Road, which they eventually purchased from Dave's father. It was here where they raised their three girls. Mary loved her home, despite becoming a farmer's wife (which she said she'd never do) and enjoyed gardening, baking and entertaining family and friends. Eventually the grandchildren arrived and mom and dad spent many hours on the farm entertaining their grandchildren and being entertained by them. When the farm became too much for dad, they built a house on land annexed from the farm.
Mom loved her new house and enjoyed living here while continuing to do the things she loved, especially the view of the ravine where little birds would come and drink from her bird feeder. After dad suffered with a few strokes it was time to move. In April 2018 dad passed away and mom eventually found her home at The Mayfair in Abbotsford. Living through the isolation of Covid really hastened mom's dementia but through it all she kept her sense of humour and her love of music, We will miss you mom and know you were greatly loved.
Mary was predeceased by her husband Dave and her siblings John, Herman, Corny, Helen, Katie, Susie and her much loved younger brother Pete. 4 siblings died in Russia. She is survived by her daughters Charleen Siemens (Vern), Jane Schmidt (Wally Ens) and Patricia Braun (Henry). 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Donations in memory of Mary can be made to the Abbotsford Food Bank: https://www.abbotsfordfoodbank.com/donate/
Additional Photo(s):
