CORALIE MARGARET (KOKE) WADE SCHMIDT

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CORALIE MARGARET (KOKE) WADE SCHMIDT It is with great sadness, after a brave battle with cancer and family at her side, Coralie left early to be in peace with her Lord on March 31, 2014. She leaves behind sons Jason (Jamie), Kyle (Lindsey), respective families, sisters Sandra (Bob), Glenda, Alpha (Les), many dear nieces and nephews, their families, cousins, and uncles. Coralie is predeceased by her mother Doreen Wade, special friend Hardy Schmidt, as well as many aunts and uncles. Although no longer married, Coralie and Hardy remained good friends. Born in Calgary, AB in 1952, Coralie was an "Air Force Brat" for her first 18 years. She travelled across Canada and luckily Europe in (1960) with her parents and three sisters. They visited ancestral homes, met relatives touring France and Spain. Coming back to Canada, the family spent four more years moving often; Coralie's Dad retired, and became a Recreation Director in the city of Brantford, ON. It was in Brantford that Coralie started to play guitar and sing. She enjoyed talent shows, church choir, and writing songs. Often her English projects were written songs sung in class. After a quick stay in Thompson in 1971, she moved back to Ontario to be with her sister Glenda. Having been involved in aquatics her whole life, she started working at the "Y" lifeguarding and teaching swimming. She also trained and did window displays at a chain of stores in Ontario. Carrying on, her Air Force soul moved back to Thompson to be with family where she worked with Transair Airlines, then on to Winnipeg for five years as a Travel Agent, one year as a manager of The Bay Travel - Unicity. As a travel agent, Coralie travelled quite a bit to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as the United States, Canada, and Europe. Coralie could speak English, French, and Spanish. Still swimming and teaching, Coralie went into a new sport! S.C.U.B.A. diving at 3 Fathoms Scuba where she rose to being a S.C.U.B.A. Bronze level. It is here where she met her future husband, Hardy Schmidt. She dove in Canada and in Cozumel, Mexico. Together Coralie and Hardy were at Crystal Springs Dive and Country Club in Garson before moving to Pinawa. They married in 1982 and bundle of joy Kyle was born on May 3, 1983, bundle of joy Jason was born on July 11, 1985. After moving to Beausejour, Coralie was a stay at home Mom volunteering at the Beausejour Early Years School with the French Immersion Program while raising her two boys and Maxine (her four legged friend). She was founder of the Eastman Music and Folklore Association, organizing many concerts and events in and around Eastman. She came to love Beausejour as home for 25 years. Coralie enjoyed being an entrepreneur and living her dream as an artist. Her companion was Grover, a seven foot Sesame Street character who helped her sing and play guitar at churches, special events in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba including the Burton Cummings Theatre, West End Cultural Centre, fairs, schools, Winnipeg Arena, MTS Centre and recently the local Farmer's Markets. She was a children's entertainer and for over 15 years taught guitar at her store, "Coralie's Musical Notes" in Pinawa and Beausejour, then later at Beausejour Music. More recently, Coralie joined a music group called "Harmony Skye" with friends and recorded on two CDs, the last one being "Legacy". She had many coffee house jam sessions at Depot Lunch and concerts at places like the Lyric Theatre in Beausejour. Coralie was also a talented painter, using gallon jugs, teapots, wood pieces, leather, even Tyndall stone as her canvases. She also illustrated two children's books titled "Prejudice, Pain and Peace" and "Feelings of you and me" which are now in many elementary school libraries across North Eastman and Winnipeg. Through support of family, friends, and counselors, Coralie gained the strength to spend a lot of her time helping others, and would do anything she could to make your day better. This helped her obtain regular work for Regional Mental Health. She was always thankful to God for her wonderful family and friends. Out of all of the accomplishments in her life, her greatest loves were her children and their families. Coralie will watch her children and families from above with much love and happiness. In accordance with Coralie's wishes she will be cremated and interred in the spring with special friend, Hardy Schmidt, in Beausejour, MB. Please wear bright attire (her favourite colour blue) to honour a Celebration of Coralie's Life that will be held at 10:00 a.m. on April 12 at the St. Paul's United Church in Beausejour, MB. Reception will follow (location to be decided). Everyone is welcome to bring their instruments, Come join the family for a "Jam Session!" Thanks to staff at Beausejour Home Care, CancerCare Volunteers, Beausejour Hospital, Dr. Schmidt, IERHA Paramedics, and lastly the staff at Health Sciences Centre. You all did everything you could to extend Mom's time with us. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Paul's United Church, 730 James Avenue, Beausejour, MB R0E 0C0. www.seasonsfunerals.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 05, 2014