Lillian Katherine Schmidt

Lillian Katherine Schmidt (nee Kary), 84, passed away peacefully in the loving presence of her family on Friday, March 24th, 2023 at St. Angela Merici Residence in Saskatoon.

Lillian was born on April 10, 1938, in Allan, SK. She lived with her family on the farm and in the town of Allan. Mom was proud of the fact that she was the first girl in the family to graduate high school in 1957. She went on to Robertson Shorthand & Secretarial School and graduated with honors in 1958. Mom started work at City Hall in Saskatoon, July 2, 1958 as a clerk in the steno pool for the city solicitor. Her first paycheck was $166.35. Her cursive penmanship and typing skills were impeccable. Mom was a perfectionist in every sense of the word. Her work ethic & integrity beyond reproach, carried firmly with her for the entirety of her life. In 1960 Lillian married our father Ernest Schmidt and moved to a farm of their own. Forty years they were together. Mom was a fierce advocate to her two daughters. She made sure we never wanted or were without a single thing. Our home and yard were pristine. She loved being outside to garden and cut grass. Like it was continuous, methodic, and meditative to her. It was common for her to remain outside tending her garden or engaged in some horticultural task until the light faded from the day. Mom was the most physically strong woman we ever knew, all from labour of love & hard work. Right up until the end it was remarkable how physically strong she was. Lillian was diagnosed with dementia in 2019. That turned the table and it was then time to provide her with the advocacy and compassion she instilled in us. Jann Arden wrote a book in 2017 titled “Feeding My Mother” in it, there is this sentence.

“Alzheimer’s pounds all sense into nonsense.” We gained understanding, insight and some sense of comfort from her beautifully written book while caring for our mom.

Lillian kept a daily diary from a very early age. Inside the cover of one of the diaries is a newspaper clipping dated 1957, just like it was meant for us to be found. It reads:

Miss Me-But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for the soul set free?

Miss me a little-but not for too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love we once shared

Miss me-but let me go

For this is a journey we all must take

And each must go alone,

It’s part of the Master’s plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart,

Go to the friends we know.

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me – but let me go.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents, Anna Kary (Selzler) 1981, and Peter Kary,1983; brother, Edwin Kary; and sister-in-law Penny (Schuster), 2003; brother Reynold, in infancy, brother Jacob (Jack) Kary, 2011, brother William (Bill) Kary, 2021, sister Helena Kary, 2023. Former husband of forty years, Ernest Schmidt (2020).

Lillian, will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughters and their families, Sharon (Steven) Miller, Saskatoon, and Pauline (Andrew) Travers of Warman. Granddaughters, Brooke Schultz, Brett Travers, and Paige Travers and husband Colton Janswick, gifted her the first great grandchild, sweet baby Myles Janswick, he gave her such joy.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Lillian’s siblings, sharing our loss.

Wilfred (Cathy) Kary, Eileen Dengler, Armella Frenette and Sister in law,

Nicole Kary. We are grateful for our wonderful aunts & uncles and all of the cousins you gave us.

Thank you to the Staff St. Angela Merici, for your kindness, care and compassion to our mother and our family. We will forever be thankful.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Saturday April 01, 2023 at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church (114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon).

Arrangements in care of Aime Laventure

In lieu of flowers, you may consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer's Society of Saskatchewan.