Lauretta Agatha Schmidt

Lauretta was predeceased by her parents, Frank & Mary Miller; in laws, Herman and Emma Schmidt; sister, Claire Schultz; numerous brothers and sisters in law and twin great granddaughters, Daisey & Zoey Cunningham.

Grandma was born in 1930 to Frank and Mary Miller. She was the oldest of 7 girls and was raised on a farm north of Ralph. She met her future husband, Howard at a dance at the Odd Fellows Hall in Weyburn where she often went to dances with her girlfriends. Grandpa always joked that Grandma was chasing him around! They were married in 1950 and celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary this July 4th. They started farming in the Ralph/Halbrite area and raised their 7 children on that farm. Farm life was not easy in those early years. There were cows to be milked, pigs to be fed, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese to be raised and butchered and then sold. There was also cream and eggs to be sold too.

If this was not enough work to do, there was a growing family to be fed and clothed. Many of these clothes were sewn with love on the dining room table. The growing family meant planting a big garden and tending to it in her BARE feet. And we all remember the snakes that grandma would come across in the garden or yard. Those snakes didn’t stand a chance against grandma and her hoe!

Grandma loved to cook and always prepared a “Full Course Meal” to take out to the field during the busy times. And many of us got to enjoy those mealtimes in the field with her. She did all this while somehow managing to drive the grain truck as well.

In 1983, Grandma and Grandpa moved to Weyburn. This was the beginning of a more relaxed and newer lifestyle for them. Now, with more free time, grandma decided to pursue her passion for caring for people and began working for Home Care. Grandma and grandpa still had a garden, but not as large and of course there were flower beds to be planted and cared for which Grandma loved to do. Many of you will remember seeing her working in her corner flower bed in the front yard which was lovingly built for her by her cousin, Ana and her husband Sandu from Romania. She shared starter plants with friends and complete strangers passing by. She loved her flowers and always had a bouquet of her flowers on her table.

When Grandma wasn’t out in her yard, you would most likely find her in the kitchen where she loved to bake. When you went to visit there was always fresh baking offered, or a pot of homemade soup to have for lunch. Then there were her famous homemade buns and an endless supply of cookies that we all loved, the delicious beet leaf buns and those famous dough gods. Her kids and some of the grandchildren will remember getting them for a snack as well as a small bowl of fresh strawberries from her garden. The smells coming from that kitchen and all the food that was served at all the family gatherings we will always remember. Speaking of family gatherings, we can’t forget about all the Easter egg hunts that grandma put on for all of us grandkids. Grandma was the best cook and was always the last to sit down to eat!

After moving into town there were more opportunities for Grandma to care for and babysit grandchildren, often having several there at one time. This regularly included driving them to school after ensuring they each had an individualized breakfast. Then it was off to Curves for Grandmas workout. Everyone loved going to grandmas to visit or have a sleepover which often included a bath in the big brown tub. More times than not grandma had the video camera out taping special moments. No one left her house with an empty stomach or without getting a hug and hearing her say “I love you” after you returned from the root cellar picking out your favorite choice of pop. Grandma never let anyone leave empty handed whether it be a care package, goodie bag or special gift such as Avon bubble bath from her special gift drawer.

Another passion of Grandma’s was volunteering. She loved to visit at the care homes, and anyone she knew in the hospital. She would pick up and drive her fellow volunteers to take part in Masses at care homes and say the Rosary with the residents. She enjoyed her time spent with her fellow CWL members at their various social events. She became a volunteer Personal Support worker for one of her former clients who was blind, and they became lifelong friends. Grandma lost a good friend when Lorraine passed away. She also was Great Grandma Miller’s caregiver in her final years.

A few of Grandma’s favorite pastimes were crocheting afghans and doing word searches. Chances are when you went to visit, she was on the couch doing one or the other. We are all so lucky to have received a homemade afghan to remember her by. She also took the time to teach some of her grandkids how to crochet.

We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the things that Grandma was “not” interested in. She could care less about politics or political scandals! Watching TV was not something she was interested in at all. She left that up to Grandpa!!

Our grandma was a people person. She genuinely cared about people and their well-being, taking the time to call on birthdays and anniversaries making you feel special. This was true to the very end even when her health was failing. She would always ask about your family and say be sure to tell them I love them. Her faith was important to her and sustained her to the end.

Grandpa and Grandma have spent the last couple years at Hilltop Manor. It was a big change for them but they both loved it there. Grandma loved visiting with the other residents and the wonderful staff. Participating in the activities there became important to her including using her baking skills. Even helping with beet leaf buns there!! Often grandma would be found working on puzzles just outside of their room.

Grandma will be dearly missed by Grandpa, her 7 children and their spouses, 23 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She has touched the heart and soul of everyone she met.

We love you Grandma more than you’ll ever know and we’ll miss your hugs and kisses! We promise to look after all your sweety hearts while you’re watching from above.

Lauretta will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Howard Schmidt; children, Don (Fay) Schmidt and their family, Donna [Logan, Colton], Scott (Amanda), Mark (Jill) [Len, Nate]; Dianne (Jim) Brown and their family, Dave (Tenille) [Liam, Eric], Colin (Bianca) [Baylyn]; Marlene (Kevan) Adderley and their family,

Alison (Cory) [Daxon], Nadine (Mark) [Alaina, Livia], Melanie [Beckett]; Dolores (Armin) Roettger and their family, Kerri (Jim) [Dylan (Kaley), Phoenix (Tyson) [Ryker, Kaybree], Kirkland (Hailey), Brayden (Brooklyn)], Elise (Mike), Atley (Jody) [Kyler, Raine], Hans [Kynlee], Ayla [Talen]; Dale (Josie) Schmidt and their family, Dan (Marcia) [Andrew, Kate, Mason], Michael (Shannon) [Rochelle, Mia, Christopher];

Joanne (Phil) Babiarz and their family, Jesse (Jess) [Paycen, Taisley], Erika (Owen) [Nika, Natalie, Nevaeh] and Kale; Val (Dean) Lund and their family, Ashley (Travis) [Emerson], Robert (Karly), Colton (Mikki), Brooklyn (Wyatt) and Jasmine; sisters, Rosalea (Sandy) Cameron, Eileen Zarazun, Anne McIntyre, Fran (Gerry) Fincati and Margaret (Barry) Briltz as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Prayers were on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. from St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Weyburn, Saskatchewan and the Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. from St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Weyburn, Saskatchewan with Father Francis Plaparampil celebrating. Interment followed in Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Pallbearers were her grandsons: Mark Schmidt, Dave Brown, Atley Roettger, Michael Schmidt, Jesse Babiarz, and Robert Pickering.

Donations in memory of Lauretta may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #47, Canadian Cancer Society or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation