It’s with love and gratitude for a life well lived; we announce the passing of our mother Emily Schmaltz on February 26, 2026 at 102 years of age.
Emily was born on May 21, 1923, at the family farm near Liebenthal, Sask. She was the 4th youngest of 14 children born to Mary Eva and Frank Mastel. Her sisters: Pauline (Mike) Moser, Melonia (Gregory) Weinberger, Veronica (Peter) Scherger, Mary (Mike) Hittel, Rose (Paul) Kuntz, Gertrude Mastel. Brothers: Mike (Anne) Mastel, Joseph Mastel, Maynard (Katie) Mastel, Pius Mastel, Eugene (Tracy) Mastel, Cecil (Stacia) Mastel. The Mastel family farm remains in the hands of Emily’s brother Maynard’s son, Keith.
On June 2, 1942, she married Frank Schmaltz. They lived on the family farm at Glidden, SK for six years then moved to Gem in April of 1948, then Tilley in November of 1948. In 1952 moved to Millington’s Dairy farm in what is now part of Echo Dale Park outside of Medicine Hat. In 1953, they were on the move again to the PFRA in Glidden, SK, managing the Newcombe Pasture where they stayed for 13 years. In July of 1966 they moved to Consul, SK, to take over the Nashlyn Pasture. In 1973, they headed to Davidson to take over the Wilner and Elbow Pastures. Each move created a lot of hard work but allowed them to provide more for their family. During all these moves not only was she having and raising babies, she was gardening or cooking and baking up a storm for her family and hired men. In her spare time, she was the secretary/treasurer for the PFRA pastures that Dad managed. She also held many executive positions in the Catholic Women’s League and was recently presented with her 80-year pin. Mom loved to sing and shared that love with her children. She made sure that each of her kids had an opportunity to learn to play the guitar or chord organ. Emily and her youngest daughter Cyndy provided the music at Saturday night mass at Davidson for many years. Every family gathering and or birthday party always included mom singing with some family member whether it was her sons Ray and Cecil or her daughter Cyndy and Granddaughter Stacey. Dancing was another love she shared with her family. There were many nights spent teaching the kids to dance in the kitchen after supper. Family dances were always a hit. Mom and Dad loved visiting. Many weekends were spent on the road visiting or hosting extended family. What fun we had listening to the grown ups in the kitchen, as long as you were seen and not heard, as they visited and played cards. Mom was a competitive card player and the amount of laughter in the air always told you whether the women or men were winning! She kept her ear on the news and didn’t mind telling you what she thought on a topic no matter what it was. In 1979, Mom and Dad retired to Medicine Hat with their two youngest in tow. Mom continued to cook up a storm for anyone who came to visit whether family or friends. It gave her an opportunity to stay in touch with Mom and Dad’s siblings and their families that lived in the area. They made their rounds to all their children’s homes to help out however they could. Usually that meant cooking and taking care of grand kids and of course teaching them how to play cards. Mom has spent the last many years making new friends and spending her time dancing and singing and becoming a celebrity thanks to the Meadowlands billboards. Thank you to all of you that allowed her to continue doing the things she loved especially Gladys, Angie and Arlene and the A&W gang who continued to make her laugh.
Emily was pre-deceased by her husband Frank, sons Donald and Gerard, daughter Theresa, Grandbaby Jamie Siroski, son-in-law Bill Thomson and grandson-in-law Chris Smith, as well as her parents and all of her siblings and their spouses.
Emily leaves to cherish her memory, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren: Raymond (Gail) Schmaltz– Joel (Shannon) Schmaltz: Tyler and Luke Schmaltz, Michael (Kathy) Schmaltz: Sierra and Kaleah Schmaltz Patricia Thomson – Tim (Lisa) Thomson: Taylor and Matthew Thomson Sheri Thomson-Whiting: Colton (Daphne) Whiting: (Annabelle, William and Noah), Wyatt Whiting, Dustin (Amy Dolynny) Whiting, Dallas (Kendall Krawchuk) Whiting – Lori (Dallas Millard) Biggs: Ernie (Teagan Wilms) Biggs, Josh Biggs, Danika Biggs, Sophie Millard Cecil (Betty) Schmaltz– Annette (Calvin Sack) Smith: Tristan Smith, Michaela (Sheldon) Barbar, Cheyanne (Ian Leach) Smith, Jesse (Jaylynn Giroux) Smith – Cory Schmaltz: Denovah Boser, Cassidy Foulds, Jadace Mann, Breanna Schmaltz Jason Schmaltz, Donna (Jim) Siroski– Stacey Siroski: Layne and Grayson Siroski Brett (Brenna) Siroski: Reagan, Nolan, Amy Siroski, Sandra (Lorne) Zentner– Kent Zentner, Kristine (Monty) Koopman: Bronx, Emerson, Holden, Sutton Koopman, Cynthia (Darren) Lutz, Gary (Tammie) Schmaltz – Lauren (Tyler) Murray: Emily and Zoey Murray Jordan (Ashley) Schmaltz: Quinn and Riley Schmaltz.
Prayer Service – Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel – 1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB, Friday May 15, 2026 at 7pm. Live Stream available at www.saamis.com
Funeral Mass – Holy Family Parish – 1451 Strachan Rd SE, Medicine Hat, AB, Saturday May 16, 2026 at 11 am. Interment to follow mass at Hillside Cemetery.
