FRANCES CAROL SCHMIDT

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FRANCES CAROL SCHMIDT

(nee PETERS)

October 14, 1941 - May 2, 2025

On May 2, 2025, our mother took Jesus' hand and went home.

Frances leaves to mourn her passing her son David, daughter Dorothy (Steve); grandchildren, Jared (Danielle), Annie, Derek (Emily); great-grandchildren, Theo, Lily, Claira, Olivia, Elenor; nephew Bob Peters, grandnieces/nephew, Amanda, Courtney, Brian, and great-grandnieces, Trinity and Alexis. Frances was predeceased by her husband Gerhard, parents, Cornelius and Alexandria Peters, sister Clara and brother Walter (Kay).

Frances was born in Winnipeg and grew up helping in the family store on Windsor Avenue. She attended George V School as a child and Elmwood High as a teen where she met Gerhard. After high school Frances worked for the Royal Bank as a teller while Gerhard also worked as a teller for the Bank of Montreal. In 1961 Frances and Gerhard wed. Gerhard accepted a transfer and the newlyweds moved to North Battleford. Money was tight on Gerhard's salary so in 1963 Gerhard and Frances accepted positions with the Battleford Town Police - Gerhard as Town Constable and Frances as Police Call Taker/ Jail Matron. Frances would take Police calls and then light a red lamp in the suite window to alert Gerhard who was on patrol. Gerhard would park his Patrol car and run upstairs to their suite to obtain the call information from Frances. Then he ran back to his patrol car to attend the required location. They were quite the team with lots of stories to share. After David was born in 1964, the family moved back to Winnipeg where Gerhard joined the City Police and Frances became a full-time mother. A year later Dorothy was born to complete the family. Frances took great pride in being a homemaker. When time allowed, Frances loved to sew, draw, oil paint, make candles, do complex jig saw puzzles and meet her friends for coffee. Shopping for bargains was a must as Frances knew how to stretch a dollar. Frances' greatest passion was playing her piano. She would play for hours and lose herself in the music. Frances' faith was an essential part of her life being actively involved with Fort Richmond Assembly Church. Frances was a caring listener who was always willing to add you to her prayer list.

Frances' final years were challenging as dementia crept into her life. A special thanks to our cousin Bob Peters and family, nurse Jennifer Lambert, family friends, Darlene and Rodney Masse for all their help and support.

A Special Blessing to all the wonderful caregiving staff at Meadowood Manor Care Home. There are no words to express our deep gratitude for the care Mom received.

Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held at a later date.

FRANCES CAROL SCHMIDT

(PETERS)

October 14 - 1941 - May 2, 2025

Known as "Fran" to her friends, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fran lived the first several years of her life in an orphanage as "Josephine Bodnar". She was adopted at age three by kind Russian parents. She worked in the family grocery store and then the bank at age 17. She met her husband, Gerhard Schmidt, and married at age 19, moving to North Battleford where Gerhard worked as the town constable. Moving back to Winnipeg with Gerhard when he started with Winnipeg Police, Fran filled her life with oil painting, sewing, church activies and raising two children, David and Dorothy.

Fran, predeceased by Gerhard (2019), leaves behind two children and a small group of relatives in Toronto, Winnipeg and Maryland. She will best be remembered by her incredible generosity and is now in the arms of our Lord and Saviour.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 10, 2025, May 17, 2025