Rose Marie (Ries) Schneider

Rosa Maria (Ries) Schneider was the ninth child of thirteen, born on November 30,1928 to Joseph and Elizabeth (Bosch) Ries. She was a real outdoor person, helping her father seeding, ploughing, stookling all done with horses and preferred that to cooking, cleaning and laundry. As time went on Eligor saw her chasing the wagon as he was going to the Great Sandhills to get cherry wood for fence posts and smoking sausage. He wondered who that dark native girl chasing the wagon was, for she tanned quite dark in the summer months. He said he was going to marry that dark native girl some day. They didn't see each other for some time. He sent her a note "If you want to see me then keep the note but if you don't then return the note." Well as you all know she kept the note and they got married November 11, 1946. They had nine children born across four different decades from 1947 to 1975. She helped run a very busy farm, playing ball with the kids, countless hours canning, pickling and freezing foods to feed the large family. Outdoors was still her favorite. Planting a large garden and baling, even though the bales weighed as much as her. Sewing was another passion, making western shirts, jean jackets, dresses, jeans and vests for her family. We will all miss her big turkey dinners served on special occasions and the legendary coconut cream and banana cream pies made with cornflakes crust. Those were the days. Her other passion was crocheting, making many baby afghans for the CWL. In June of 2009 the love of her life of 63 years passed on. She was now a widow but still baked buns and her famous jam jam cookies. On Christmas Eve 2015 she had a mini stroke and was in the hospital on Christmas Day. Her total short-term memory was gone. Dementia set in and she resided in Meadowlands Senior Home in Medicine Hat. In time she was moved to Meadow Ridge Senior Place just across the way. There were some adjustments but it didn't take long and she knew her place, recognizing her furniture and pictures. Some laughs were had as she was quite talkative. In one conversation she asked how many were in her family, meaning brothers and sisters. She was told there were thirteen. You had nine children and said you wanted more everytime you saw a baby. It got quiet for awhile then she said "I must have been drinking." As we all know she was not a drinking woman. The one thing she always asked was, so where are we going today. During covid it was hard, couldn't take her out, visiting only in her room all masked up. She lived a good life. Her faith was strong, praying the rosary and doing many hours at church events and activities. When she didn't talk, she often sang little songs. She had a very positive attitude, always a big smile when you walked in the room. She has over thirty grandchildren, several great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. She was the last of her thirteen siblings. An amazing woman, who will be sadly missed but never forgotten by all who knew her. We all have a memory of how she impacted our life. The memories are dear to one’s heart. May she rest in peace.

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