SCHMIDEK, Lydia

1929 – 2025

Mrs. Lydia Schmidek of Innisfail, Alberta passed away at the Innisfail Health Care Centre on January 8, 2026 at the age of 96 years.

Lydia was born at Hay Lakes, Alberta in October of 1929 and grew up on the family farm. Her father passed away from a farm accident in 1939 and her mom carried on with the family farm until she remarried in 1946 and they moved to Leduc, Alberta to live with her new husband, Ed Plitt. Lydia met Gerald in 1948 and they were married in 1950 in Leduc. Gerald and Lydia raised their four children on their family farm in the Craig district. There were lots of animals on the farm, but the majority of Lydia’s focus was towards the chickens. She spent many hours with her hands in ice cold water preparing chickens for sale to local customers and when she wasn’t outside, she was inside baking bread, cakes and other delicious treats. Lydia and Gerald worked very hard at keeping the farmyard and garden looking perfect, so much so they were awarded the County Rural Farm Beautification Award in 1995. In 2000 Gerald and Lydia sold the farm and moved to Innisfail. Gerald passed away in 2007, and Lydia sold the house not long after and moved into Country Manor in Innisfail. Lydia enjoyed working on her puzzles in the Apple Annie room of the manor which led to even more puzzles coming her way which helped fill her time. Lydia was active in the local Ladies Aid group in the Craig District, the Craig Lutheran Church, the Craig Community Hall, T.O.P.S. and the Red Hat Club in Innisfail.

Lydia is lovingly remembered as the loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother ‘Oma’ to:

Elaine (Allan) Johannson, granddaughter, Kristal (Nolan), great grandchildren, Sarah and Johnathan, and grandson Colby;

Larry (Janis) Schmidek, granddaughter, Danielle (Eric), great grandchildren, Sophie, Sadie and Maisy, granddaughter, Jenna (Garrett) and granddaughter, Lauren;

Gerry (Val) Schmidek, granddaughter, Leah (MacKenzie) and great grandson, Murphy and granddaughter, Rachel (Damon) and great granddaughters, Nora and Anna;

Brenda Beagle, granddaughter, Nicole (Peter), great granddaughter, Bradie and great grandson, Rayne, granddaughter Charmaine, granddaughter, Reagan (Jason), great grandson, Beaudan and great granddaughter, Luka. She will also be remembered by numerous nieces and nephews.

Lydia was predeceased by her husband Gerald, an infant daughter, Sharon, her mother, Mathilda, her father Helmut, her sister, Olga and her brothers, Otto, Bruno and Carl. She is also predeceased by numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Lydia’s family would like to thank the staff at Country Manor for the devotion and kindness they have shown to her during her time that she lived there.

A Funeral Service will be held at the King of Kings Lutheran Church, Dickson, Alberta on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. For those unable to attend the Funeral Service, please go to www.heartlandfuneralservices.com and click on the Live Stream button just prior to 1:00 p.m. The Live Stream will be recorded and available to view on Lydia’s Memorial Page 24 to 48 hours after the Funeral Service. If desired, Memorial Donations may be made to the Innisfail Health Centre Fundraising Committee at 5023 – 42 Street, Innisfail, Alberta, T4G 1A9 or to the King of Kings Lutheran Church, designated to the Christ Lutheran Cemetery at PO Box 25, Spruce View, Alberta, T4G 0K8. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

Mom… your wings were ready, but our hearts were not.

• Date : 2026-01-19
• Location : (Innisfail) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com