MRS. WILHELMINA ""BILLIE"" SMEREK of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Stephen Smerek, passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Park Meadows Village in Lethbridge on Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the age of 90 years.

Born on May 1, 1918 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Billie was raised in Lethbridge and educated at St. Basil's School. She was well known for the many years she worked at Eaton's and Sears. Billie was a bright, caring, and courageous person of deep faith and always dedicated to her family and friends. She loved to cook, bake and knit. Whether it be as a mother, grama, sister, aunt, cousin or friend, she was an inspiration to us all and will be deeply missed.

Billie is survived by her younger sister, Dorothy (Al) Brewster; her son Robert Smerek, daughter Barbara (Phillip) Legge and three grandchildren Carri Ann, Kris and Shaun (Amber) Toivanen; as well as two step-grandchildren Dionne and Wayne Legge; and ""adopted"" daughter Mary Roberts.
Billie was predeceased by her Slovak parents, John and Mary Larko and loving husband Steve of 32 years; and her sisters, Helen, Margaret, Julie and her brothers, John, Peter and George.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00PM, on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPELS, 610 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday, April 24, 2009 at ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 318 - 10 Street South, Lethbridge, AB.

Those wishing to honor the memory of Wilhelmina may donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 207, 542 - 7 Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2H1 or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, 438 - 10 Street North, Lethbridge, AB T1H 2C7.