Hello, my name is Suzi (West) Schmitt, and I am coming to you with a plea for help, on behalf of my brother’s family. I am sister to the late Neil Schmitt, who was a hardworking, dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, who tragically and suddenly passed away at the age of 56 on January 13th. He leaves behind a large, devastated family who is now struggling to re-establish themselves in a life without him.
Neil was the sole provider in their home, while Annie battled cancer. Sadly, Annie was denied disability pension leaving her without a steady income to help them get by. I am reaching out to you for a donation during this time of hardship as Annie tries to sort out next steps for her family.
To help you better understand why I am asking, I would like to share a little bit about them. Firstly, Neil and his wife were incredibly generous and caring people who regularily put their own needs aside to help others who were less fortunate. Whenever an opportunity arose where they could extend a helping hand, they did without hesitation. They shared whatever they had, whenever they could. I am so proud of the legacy of kindness and generosity that my brother has left behind. Now however, Annie and the children are in a place of need. Will you help me, help them?
To further share how amazing this family is, I’d like to add that, Neil and his wife Annie, of 37 years, lovingly raised 5 children, one of which, they felt blessed to have been able to adopt as an infant. They are grandparents to 17 children and 2 foster grandchildren. Even though they always had a full house and mostly Neil’s income to rely on, they fostered many children over a 25 year period . Their compassion and generosity seemed to have no limits when it came to people in need, even if it meant sacrificing their own comforts in life. Their kindness and generosity did not stop there. Neil was a steadfast supporter of our aging and ill parents, along with anyone else in need that he met along a day's journey. To learn that he had anonymously dropped off groceries at someone’s house, delivered a coffee, kind words and a listening ear to a neighbour, family, friend or coworker, would not be surprising! He also never liked asking for help, even if he needed it. It would warm his heart knowing, his family was being cared for in their time of need.
Furthermore, since last year, Annie and Neil found themselves with the full-time responsibility of caring for 4 school aged grandchildren between the ages of 2 and 12, after hard times fell upon their parents. Although, their own finances were tight, they loved these children far too much to have them split up and scattered throughout a social service system that is already underfunded and overburdened. They took them under their wings, as they had done for other children, caring and loving them as best as they could.
Along with these children, Annie and Neil were also currently caring for their teenage son, and a young adult foster daughter, who came to them many years earlier as a teenager without a safe home of her own. They endeavoured to maintain and nurture emotionally and financially supportive relationships with all their children, grandchildren and foster children beyond the time within their care, whenever possible. Their focus was never on personal gain, and when asked why they invested so much time, energy and finances in others, Neil would say, “if not me, if not us, then who?” Neil’s heart always seemed too big for one body to handle!!
As a team, this duo did their best, sacrificing personal wealth and caring without judgement. They brought many a destitute infant, toddler, teen and young adult through their open doors and warm hearts over the years.
Compounding their already difficult challenges in raising and fostering children, Annie has also bravely fought multiple myeloma for eight years, requiring many treatments and surgeries. Doctors originally gave her 3 years to live, yet she surpassed expectations. Thankfully she is currently in remission, and what should be an exciting time, is now sadly overshadowed by devastating grief and looming financial worry.
They did not own their own home, nor did they have life insurance or much savings to count on, which makes moving forward even more daunting. They always invested whatever was left to those who struggled around them.
The loss of her partner has left Annie alone with challenges of raising the children in her care, while also carrying the financial burdens, without a dependable income or a career to fall back on.
Annie will undoubtedly be faced with many more financial demands that go beyond the scope of our family’s ability to handle as the days and months approach. Having exhausted all their personal options, it is from the depths of our hearts that I reach out to you for support to help this family navigate the coming days. They desperately need your help to bridge the gap until they can move forward on their own once again, without their beloved father, husband, grandfather and provider.
Your support will assist in covering immediate living expenses, including food, transportation, automobile insurance, possible relocating costs, rent, utilities, grief counselling, and possibly educational upgrading and skill development opportunities to enhance their employability.
With much gratitude, I thank you for taking the time to consider my plea for help. There is little that we can do to take away the pain of such a colossal loss for this family, but every little bit of financial and prayer support will help them move on from this tragedy.
If you are unable to give financially at this time, please consider passing this link on to others.
The family also welcomes and very much appreciates your prayers.
This is his obituary:
This is the funeral:
With heartfelt gratitude,
the family that was left behind.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ann Schmitt
Beneficiary