Katherine Schmidt’s enthusiasm encouraged schoolchildren who needed extra help, raised the spirits of minor athletes, and kept her large family both on the move and rooted in home life.

“She was always enthusiastic and bright. She had a contagious and infectious laugh, was selfless and loved helping people,” family friend Lisa Lynne said Friday.

Schmidt, 51, died in a car roll­over Wednesday on the Highway 401 off-ramp to Wellington Road. The crash left her husband, James, 56, in critical condition in hospital, and their five children reeling from the sudden absence of parents.

Lynne has set up a gofundme account to support the children, ranging in age from 15 to 25 with a set of triplets in the middle, at www.gofundme.com/374iico.

Schmidt’s death also left Woodland Heights elementary school in London, where she worked as an educational assistant, bracing for a painful return from the Christmas break.

“She was a great educator, kind, with a great sense of humour,” principal Jane Hanbuch said. “She is going to be very missed. She certainly was a fabulous person.”

Schmidt’s selfless spirit inspired her, said Lynne, a nurse.

“She was always there for me. I really looked up to her.”

Schmidt’s family, her schoolchildren and her church were foundations of her life, Lynne said.

“She was an amazing cook and looked after her children so well. She drove them everywhere. She was really involved in all their sports. I never knew how she could do it,” Lynne said. “She lived for family game nights.”

In the chaos of a five-children family and with a challenging career, Schmidt would never lose her temper, Lynne said.

“She loved her children at school. She would always talk about them.”

Heidi Solway coached Schmidt’s youngest daughter on a London Volleyball Club competitive team.

Typical of her support of her children’s sports, Schmidt became team manager.

“The girls loved her,” Solway said.

“She had a remarkable spirit. It always struck me how incredibly positive and supportive she was.”

Solway moved to another volleyball club and hadn’t seen Schmidt for a while. Only a few days before the crash, they met while shopping.

Instead of the cursory hello that others might offer, Schmidt stopped and chatted at length.

“It was her friendly nature,” Solway said. “She was always authentic.”

rrichmond@postmedia.com

twitter.com/RandyRatLFPress

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How to help

To support the Schmidt children:

www.gofundme.com/374iico