Heidi Pastega

November 14th, 1979 - April 11, 2024

‘She loved life, and it loved her right back.’

There are no adequate words that can encapsulate a life as singular, as precious, and as well lived as Heidi’s; deeply loved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend, who passed away on April 11, 2024.

Born on November 14th, 1979, to Dennis and Linda Schmitke in Grants Pass, Oregon, she grew up in a tight-knit family with her older sister, Kristin, and younger brother, AJ. The quintessential ‘middle child’, she was, from the very beginning, a delightful ray of sunshine possessing an impish grin, a spray of fine blonde hair, a sweet high-pitched voice, and a presence that would light up a room.  With her subtle sense of humor and occasional outbursts of uncontrollable laughter, smiles and joy naturally followed her wherever she went.

Never one to waste a drop of life, her days overflowed with activity as she bounded from swim team and soccer meets to church activities, to summer camping trips, to houseboat outings on Lake Shasta, “Our Gang” adventures with her favorite people on Lake Tahoe, and family at Eagle Crest. She cherished the moments she shared with her mom and dad, her brother and sister, her cousins, and the innumerable friends she gathered around her all throughout her life. A beautiful and unceasingly supportive friend, she will forever be treasured as the blessed gift that she was to them.

After graduating from Grants Pass High in 1998, she attended and graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego where her life-long love for the beach blossomed. After graduation, she moved to Portland to be closer to family where she attended Pacific University, receiving her degree in dental hygiene. During her career Heidi worked for Erickson, Powel, and Warm Springs Dental offices. Always embracing everyone around her with a huge heart, it is no surprise that she loved her job, her coworkers, and the dentists with whom she worked.

While excelling in her vocation, she also held within her an impressive artistic talent. She possessed a unique ability to see and understand the transformative value of art, design, balance, and color, a gift she generously shared with others, 

enhancing and enriching their lives and the world around her.

She joyfully married her soulmate, Jason Pastega June 16th, 2012. They quickly connected over being ‘middle children’ and their mutual germaphobia. It was love at first hand sanitizer spray! Dario (now 10) and Alessia (now 8), soon joined this super-clean duo and became the center of their lives. Heidi embraced motherhood with passion, frequently gifting her children with “the best day ever” events, be it a princess day, art creations, sports outings, or zoo adventures. After her passing, Jason found a daily reminder on her phone calendar to “fill their buckets”. She was an amazing mom who was always there for her beloved children and dedicated, as well, to being involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews. 

Aunt Heidi was, and is, deeply loved by each one.

Underpinning every moment of her life was the strong foundation of her Christian faith. It was the guiding force of her life, her marriage, her motherhood. To further manifest her commitment to God, she chose to be baptized the summer of 2022 at Athey Creek Christian Fellowship, 

the community of believers of which they are a part.

As Heidi faced her battle with cancer, one which she unwaveringly fought, she chose to live a life filled with travel, friends, and family. She shared this unimaginable battle alongside her father Dennis, who was also fighting cancer and passed away April 19th of 2023. Heidi and Dennis were two peas in a pod and supported each other through treatments. As desperately as we all miss them both, there is a small, 

sweet peace in knowing they are together now in Heaven.

Ever fierce and fabulous, Heidi maintained an incredibly positive outlook throughout her ordeal, never wavering in her faith-filled life. Through unspeakable fatigue, pain, and the horrific side effects of cancer treatments, she always gave her all.  She showed up to everything and for everyone. Beyond belief and against all odds, Heidi was there for every family, sport, and school event. Missing something with family was not an option for her.

Known and loved by the parents and staff at Horizon Christian School where Dario and Alessia are students, she will be remembered for her sweet spirit and selfless commitment of time, love, and energy, which she truly gave until she could give no more.

Toes in the sand on a warm beach was her favorite place to be. “Driver, take me somewhere sunny” on her yellow sweatshirt is a fondly remembered image of our sweet girl. We will see her in every sunset and on every sandy beach. Her smile, her laugh, and the way she loved the people in her life 

will remain with us always.

Heidi has said ‘farewell, for now’ to her husband, Jason, and her darling, brave children, Dario and Alessia, to her courageous and loving mother, Linda Schmitke; her beautiful sister, Kristin Erdmann (husband Benji and their daughters Hannah and Maya); her wonderful brother, A.J. Schmitke (wife, Jessica and their sons, Lincoln, Parker, and Weston); her devoted mother and father-in-law, Denny and Chris Pastega, sister-in-law, Jessica Bush (husband, Mychal and sons, Domenic and Declan); brother-in-law, Tony Pastega (wife, Stephanie and children, Micah and Lily); Uncle Dave Handley (wife, Dolly); Aunt Carol Hill and sons, Shawn, David and families; Aunt Connie and Uncle Chuck Baker (daughters, Shannon and Lindsay and families); and a large and loving extended group of family and friends, who supported her and her family, without pause, throughout this most rugged of journeys. Heidi knew that you loved her, we knew that you loved her, and we are so profoundly grateful.

Heidi chose to live her life on earth in a way that made a difference. Her laughter and light and love continue to reverberate through each life she touched and on out into the whole world, making it a more beautiful place.  If you were fortunate enough to know her, you already understand. If not, it is our hope that these inadequate words may allow you to discover why this extraordinary young woman was so deeply loved and why 

her priceless presence is so profoundly missed.