Obituary of Pauline Schmidt

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Pauline (nee Hummel) Schmidt passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday April 5, 2024 at the age of 91 and is now in her Saviour’s arms. 

Pauline will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her husband John, children Rosemarie (Jim), Ralph (Brenda), and Walter (Amy), grandchildren Nathan (Alice), Leah (Tyler), Sarah (David), Elizabeth (Cole), Megan (Andrew), and Christine (Sam), and great-grandchildren Blake, Breanna, Logan, Brennan, Frederick, and two more on the way. She also leaves behind her sister Gerlinde (Lou), nieces Kari (Laurence), Becky (David), nephew Bradley, and many close friends and extended family members. She is predeceased by her parents Friedrich and Magdalena, and sister Ava.  

Pauline was born on March 17, 1933 in Woilowitza, Yugoslavia. She lived a happy, normal childhood until 1945 when Serbian soldiers drove her, her mother, and infant sister out of their home (her father was working in Vienna, Austria at the time). With only the clothes on their backs and one pillow in hand they were herded onto a train to a concentration camp in Jabuka, Serbia. After six months, Pauline and her family boarded another train and were dropped off at an extermination camp in Rudolfsgnad, Serbia where they suffered for a year and a half.

By the grace of God, Pauline’s father was able to locate his family at the camp and persuaded a soldier to lead them across the Hungarian border. They took a train to Vienna, Austria where they stayed for three and a half months before moving to Salzburg to live in barracks for a year. Pauline and her family then boarded a ship to Canada and after nine rough days at sea they arrived in Halifax. After a short stay in Ottawa, Pauline and her family settled in Kitchener-Waterloo a town she would build her life in.

Pauline met her husband John in April of 1953 and the two were married in November 1953. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary! Together, Pauline and John created a family of three children, six grandchildren, soon-to-be 7 great-grandchildren, and many spouses and friends that have become family. 

Pauline wore many hats and she wore them all very well. Pauline was a chef with enough specialities to fill a cookbook; a baker who could make anything with a yeast dough; a seamstress, always shortening pants and patching holes; a gardener, growing the tastiest raspberries in town; a painter specializing in landscapes using oil paints; a hairdresser, cutting the hair of clients, family, and herself; a construction worker, helping to build several houses and always painting the trim; a singer, participating in the Transylvania Club choir; and a landscaper, always clearing the land and picking up sticks. The role that Pauline was best at and took the most pride in was Mutti, Oma, and Uroma. She was a natural caretaker and was so proud of her family. 

Among too many things to list, the family will miss Pauline’s strong, warm hands (especially when they were giving back rubs), her fresh bread with butter and honey, the never-ending milk refills, and her voice yelling “Papa” across the house. 

In her later years, Pauline found great joy in the simpler things like watching the birds and squirrels play in the backyard and sitting in the front window with John, their feet on each other’s chairs. Visits from her family were always the highlight of her week and you were guaranteed a phone call from her shortly after arriving home thanking you for a wonderful time and reiterating how happy it had made her. Appreciating the simple things by in life and always telling your family how much you love them are two of the most important lessons Pauline has left us with. 

Many thanks to the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand River Hospital, Warm Embrace Elder Care, and Hospice Waterloo Region for the compassionate care provided in Pauline’s last weeks. 

A visitation will take place at Erb and Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S., Waterloo on Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 7:00pm-9:00pm. A Celebration of Life will take place in the chapel of the funeral home on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 10:30am. Followed by a reception in the Fireside Reception Room. Cremation will have taken place.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to Hospice Waterloo Region may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.