Obituaries
HENNY PARITZKY (nee WOLF)
Unexpectedly, our mother, Henny Paritzky, passed away on August 25, 2021, at the age of 94. She was predeceased by her devoted husband Abraham and her sister Branka and is survived by her three children, Ron (Esther), Gilead, and Rachel (Blair), and her seven grandchildren.
Born in Poland in 1927, Henny and her family moved to Holland several years later for a better life. Little did she know that her happy childhood with her younger sister Branka would end with the war, the invasion of Holland, the imposition of restrictions, and eventually the deportation of the Jewish population to concentration camps.
Henny, Branka, and their loving parents survived the war through the kindness of strangers, incredible luck and quick-wittedness, and her father’s planning. They never made it to Switzerland as planned, but were able to remain in France by masquerading as Protestants. Almost all of her relatives were not so lucky and perished.
The lessons of the war were not lost on our mother, who chose to focus on the acts of those who helped her family survive. This is what informed her post-war life. She learned how to smile again and almost every picture of her includes her beautiful smile.
Several years after the war, Henny went to study at Hebrew University in the newly established state of Israel. There she met the love of her life, Abraham, a university student (and dashing reservist). They married in 1951 and after several years in Israel, where their son Ron was born, Henny and Abraham moved to Winnipeg where both were beloved Hebrew and Judaic studies educators and active members of the Jewish community. In Winnipeg, their family grew with the arrival of their son Gilead and daughter Rachel.
Henny had a long and very meaningful career in Jewish education as a teacher and then as a principal. Teaching was her passion and it showed. Her secret? A genuine interest in each and every student, many of whom remained in touch with her decades later.
Our mother had many other passions and interests in her life. She spoke six, or was it seven, languages fluently, and when she and her sister spoke, they flitted from language to language without stopping to take a breath, other than to puff on their cigarettes. After retirement, she even occasionally worked as an interpreter.
Henny was a voracious reader and typically had a half dozen on the go at a time. She was a facilitator for reading groups and told us she recently received a small honorarium from one such group and that being capable of receiving it in her 90s meant more than her salary as a principal.
She often spoke publicly about her experiences in the war including on panels and at various schools. She believed it was her obligation as a survivor to teach young people about the lessons to be learned from her experiences.
She had a marvellous, self-deprecating sense of humour. Last year as she was struggling with her walker, she started laughing out loud and said “Oh my, I’m walking like…walking like…an old woman”. She especially enjoyed laughing at the results of her cooking and, brilliant woman that she was, never even tried to bake after her first few mishaps. A loving mother, mother-in-law, Oma, and friend, she is forever in our hearts and will be deeply missed.
The family has been overwhelmed by the expressions of sympathy from friends and the community at large, many of which came from former students who treasured their memories of Henny as a very special teacher.
Donations in memory of Henny may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Obituaries
BARBARA CONSTANCE SLUTCHUK (née Stratton) MAY 9, 1941 – MARCH 3, 2026
Barbara Constance Slutchuk passed away peacefully. She was born on May 9, 1941, in Carmen, Manitoba to Lena Galbraith and Arthur Stratton.
Barbara was the beloved wife of George Slutchuk, whom she married on March 28, 1971. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Rishona Hyman (Hartley Hyman) and Dama Slutchuk (Tom Aldridge), and by her cherished grandchildren, Gregory and Izzie Hyman. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents; her second mother, Lyla “Winnie” Stratton; her sisters Mary Beighton (Ted) and Patricia Morton (Robert); and her brothers Keith Stratton, Grant Stratton, John Stratton, Bryan Smith (Eleanor), Lyle Smith, and David (Gail).
Barbara was a trailblazer in nursing. Over her long and dedicated career she managed an emergency department at St. Boniface Hospital, later oversaw the operating room at Seven Oaks Hospital. Eventually moved into Human Resources at Misericordia Hospital.
She had a deep passion for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and attended many games, events, and Grey Cups over the years. Barbara was an avid reader and bridge player. A proud Canadian, she loved football, hockey, curling, figure skating, the theatre, Rainbow Stage, rural Manitoba, and tending to her flower garden. She loved seeing the first robin and geese of the season.
Barbara had a special love for animals, both her own and those belonging to others. She rescued animals and people alike, always making room in both her home and her heart.
Barbara was a natural leader, a volunteer, and an organizer. Above all, her most important role was as a devoted mother and grandmother.
The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate and loving care provided by
Veronica and Lenora, as well as all of Barbara’s caregivers over the years.
A funeral service was held on March 5, 2026, at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.
Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice, Jewish Child and Family Service, or the Winnipeg Humane Society.
Obituaries
WILLIAM (BILL) MARANTZ SEPTEMBER 14, 1935 – NOVEMBER 15, 2025
Sadly, just after his 90th birthday, celebrated with four generations, Zaida Velvel passed away at Deer Lodge Centre following a brief illness.
He grew up in the storied North End mostly on Scotia Street, and it was there at Luxton School and St. John’s Tech that he made many of his lifelong friends.
But the shining star of his life was his beautiful Brenda, his loving wife and soulmate of over 65 years, who passed away in 2023. He was also pre-deceased by his parents Sophie and Frank, his brothers and sisters-in-law Cyril and Irene, Gary and Shirley-Anne, and his daughters-inlaw Andrea and Ruth.
He is survived by his children Josh, Ari (daughter-in-law Ilana), Allan (Jackie) and David; grandchildren Sarah (Chris), Noah (Nahla), Jesse (Lauren), Evan (Maddy), Dan (Tracy), Lauren (Kyle), Tamara (Robin), Ali (Wyatt), Neil; and great-grandchildren, Jack, Isaac, Sadie, Jack, Brandon and London; and nieces, nephews and cousins..
Bill graduated with his law degree from the University of Manitoba in 1960 and after articling, went into private practice.
Bill was a supportive and loving father who always came to watch the boys’ games and helped coach when needed. He and Brenda never tired of watching their sons play sports.
Bill’s eclectic career included time as a lawyer, part-time provincial court judge, movie critic, screenwriter, autobiographer, actor, Jewish Post columnist and novelist.
His most successful writing efforts were radio or screenplays, several of which were produced by CBC, and his self-published novel Christmas Eve Can Kill You.
After early retirement, he continued to write from home, the cottage and Palm Springs where he and Brenda drove to each winter for about 40 years.
Out of all his writing efforts, Bill was most proud of writing the memoir of a local Holocaust survivor.
He had another accomplishment for which he was also extremely proud. Just over three decades ago, Ari and Bill bought an old cottage at Winnipeg Beach and completely rebuilt it. This would become the new family summer home. He and Brenda lovedspending summers out at the beach with family.
For their 50th anniversary, it meant the world to them that all their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren came in to celebrate at the cottage.
Winnipeg Beach was enjoyed for many, many summers until Brenda could no longer climb the front steps, shortly before becoming housebound. Bill took outstanding care of her as her health declined.
Bill was able to live independently and was driving until just a couple months before his passing. He loved spending time with family at dinners and Jewish holiday celebrations and adored his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren,especially.
He was buried next to his beloved Brenda at Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, the Temple Shalom cemetery, with son Allan officiating and grandchildren Noah, Jesse, Evan, Dan, Tamara and Neil serving as pallbearers.
If so desired, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to Camp Massad of Manitoba.
Obituaries
AGNES FUNK (nee POLLAK) August 12, 1927 – February 18, 2026
Agnes (Anyu) peacefully passed away at the age of 98. Predeceased by her husband Fred and son George, she is survived by her daughter Kathy Shefrin, grandsons, Mark Shefrin (Laurie) and Allan Shefrin (Stephanie) and her great-grandchildren, Abby, Seth, Livia and Frankie.
Born and raised in Hungary, Agnes – known to many as Agi – was a survivor. During the Second World War, her parents made the difficult choice to hide her with righteous neighbours, thus saving her life during the Holocaust. In post war Budapest, she met the love of her life Fred. Their new life took an abrupt turn when communism took over Hungary. In 1956, with nothing, Fred, Agi, Kathy and George moved to Winnipeg to join family.
Initially, life in Winnipeg was not easy, but they found safety, community and opportunity. Their greatest joy was time spent with their children and grandchildren. They loved to travel, especially to Hawaii. Agi had a dry sense of humour infused with a Hungarian accent and mixed up words that made everyone around her laugh. Though she was quiet, her big blue eyes and infectious smile could fill a room.
In 2007, her beloved Fred died, followed by her adored son George in 2016. Both times her resiliency and strength saw her though, and those qualities served her well again when she rebounded from a life-threatening infection while visiting her family in Ottawa.
Agi experienced life’s greatest joys as her four great-grandchildren arrived. She treasured them, as they did her.
The family expresses their utmost thanks to Agi’s devoted companion, Robin Davis for her love and care for Agi over the last four years. Special thanks to the Weinberg 3 team at the Simkin Centre.
The funeral took place on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fred and Agnes Funk Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or the charity of your choice to honour her remarkable life.