Obituary of Betty Ann Schmaltz

Betty Ann Schmaltz, beloved wife of Norman Schmaltz of Airdrie, AB, formerly of Beiseker, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at the age of 65 years. Betty was born on January 28, 1940 in Calgary where she spent her formative years. Following graduation from Nursing at the Holy Cross Hospital, Betty moved to Beiseker to farm with her husband, Norman and raised their four children. Betty was a truly genuine person whose nature embodied selflessness, generosity, and compassion towards others. She tirelessly put the needs of others before her own. Our mom/grandmother gave us wings and taught us how to fly; she was our own personal Superwoman. While living in Beiseker, Betty devoted her life to family, helping others and volunteering. She dedicated time over the years to the Beiseker Catholic Women’s League; volunteered as a member of the Department of Agriculture Judging Committee; served as the committee member that initiated the Adult Education Program in the Rockyview Municipality; and for nine years worked for the Mount View Health Unit as a Home Care Nurse. She was a Board Member on the Calgary District Hospital Group during the closure of the Colonel Belcher and Holy Cross Hospitals, the completion of the Rockyview General Hospital and the construction of the Peter Lougheed Centre. She was also President of the Southern Alberta Pioneers and their Descendants in 1989. In her later years Betty relinquished her various committee activities to focus on overseeing the administrative responsibilities of the family farm. Some of her more recent endeavours were exploring her creative passions through hand quilting and stain glasswork during winters in Arizona and her tireless devotion to compiling a seventy-year history of the Beiseker Catholic Women’s League. Family was always extremely important to Betty, and you always knew if you needed comfort, words of wisdom or a shoulder to cry on, her heart and door were always open. Betty enriched the lives of all those who came in contact with her and will be dearly missed by all of us who knew and loved her. Betty is survived by a son Michael, of Calgary; three daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen and Earl Ziegler of Beiseker, AB, Karen Schmaltz and Norman Ellis of Honolulu, HI, and Jennifer and Dion Kostiuk of Calgary; grandchildren, Katelyn Ziegler, Courtney Ziegler, David Ziegler, Keane Ellis, Spencer Ellis, Kristjan Kostiuk, Keegan Kostiuk, and Ashton Kostiuk. She is also survived by a brother David Godlonton of Victoria, BC. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB) on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Beiseker, AB) on Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dariusz Krzysztalowicz SDS, Presider. Graveside Service to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (Beiseker, AB). If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to S.T.A.R.S. (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society), Box 570, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8M7 Telephone: (403) 295-1811, www.stars.ca. In living memory of Betty Schmaltz, a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park, Airdrie by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6. Telephone: (403) 276-2296.