Obituaries
EDWARD HARRY LAZAR March 27, 1924 – December 11, 2021
We lost a very special member of our family on December 11, 2021 when Edward Harry Lazar passed away at the age of 97.
He is fondly remembered by his daughters Sharon Batshaw (and her children Leor, Doron, Paul, and Yardena) and Rosalie Lazar, (husband Irwin Corobow and son Jonathan), and his great grandchildren, Davi, Asher, Emerson, and Ellyson and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Mary (Olin), his parents Louis and Gertie Lazar, his son in law, Bernie Batshaw, and his siblings Sam Lazar, Hilda Stern, Ronnie Lazar and Lloyd Lazar.
Ed grew up on the family farm in Bird’s Hill, Manitoba. the 1st generation of his family to be born in Canada. He grew up at a time that was so much harder- no running water, central heat or electricity. His parents Gertie and Louis Lazar and his grandparents Rachel and Nathan Lazar and Moshe and Sarah Daiter all immigrated to Manitoba from Eastern Europe and became pioneer farmers.
He grew up loved by these people absorbing so much of who they were-a brave generation of immigrants working hard to make a good life for their family in new country.
His work ethic was so strong- it started in his childhood- milking cows daily on the family farm before walking 2 and ½ miles to his elementary school classes in Springfield.
It continued throughout his school years – taking on more farm work- watering and herding cattle, planting, harvesting and thrashing.
As a young teenager he would ride his bike from Birds Hill to Winnipeg with his brother Sam to work unloading boxcars of coal for a few dollars and by age 15 he had a steady job at the Transcona cordite factory working long hours at a dangerous job mixing explosives for the war effort. His work continued at age 16 when he travelled to Prince Rupert B.C. to work as a riveter at the CN ship yards, sending every dollar he earned home for the rebuilding of his family’s burned-out farm house. When he graduated high school, he immediately volunteered with the Canadian Armed Forces and sailed twice back and forth across the dangerous North Atlantic where there was always a risk of u boat attacks. He returned to Canada to guard prisoners of war in North Western Ontario and then volunteered and trained for the war in the Pacific. After the war he travelled to work for the Yukon Gold Corporation, running a power plant to fuel gold dredging on the Klondike River. He returned to Manitoba 3 years later and farmed in Spingfield on land adjacent to his parents farm. He then worked as an independent trucker and followed that as the long-time owner of Variety Fruit Grocery Store on Main Street.
He valued his Jewish roots, celebrating the holidays with us, attending services, and was a frequent visitor, financial supporter and volunteer at the Simkin Center. In his later years he attended the Simkin Centre Adult Day Program and valued the friendships he forged with the staff (Heather) and volunteers (Brenda). He carried with him the lessons he learned from his parents and grandparents- he spoke and understood Yiddish, and enjoyed using the best humorous Yiddish expressions always with a twinkle in his eye.
He valued family-he was there for his parents especially so as they aged. He enjoyed his siblings and their spouses and interacting with his many nieces and nephews and their children. As the health of his siblings failed, he was determined to be a regular visitor trying to brighten their days. He was the last survivor of his siblings and our mother’s siblings and missed them all so much- determined to keep their memories alive with stories.
He was simply a very happy person. Almost every time we would get together with my dad, right up until he passed away, he would amaze us with the clarity of his thoughts and memories from every chapter of his life. His childhood and farm years, his youth, his war years, his work life in the north and here in Winnipeg, and his retirement years. He was a master chronicler and story teller.
In his later years, indeed right up to this summer, you could find Ed sitting on his scooter down at the lake near his house in Lindenwoods, watching the birds on the lake, and he knew what each one was. He loved nature and being outside to see it made him
very happy.
We would like to thank his companions Trina and Linda who enriched his life when he became housebound as well as the WRHA Home Care Program for their support of Ed as his health failed. A thank you as well to Dr. Goldberg of the Fort Garry Access Centre who cared for him as his primary care physician.
The pallbearers for Ed were his grandchildren, Leor, Paul, Yardena, Jonathan and his nephews Matthew and Gary Lazar. We would like to thank Rabbi Kliel Rose of the Etz Chaim Synagogue for officiating at the funeral and his kind words of comfort to the family.
If you would like to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Simkin Centre Personal Care Home or the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
IRENE MARANTZ (nee KATZ) November 28-1950 – March 30, 2025
Our mother, Irene , passed peacefully in her own home at the age of 94. Irene was predeceased by: her parents, Abe and Sally Katz , her husband; Cyril Marantz, sister Clarice Rosenbloom, brother Max Katz, sister Bernice Grant, her sons-in-law Mike Langer and Bruce Cook
Irene is survived by her children: Jeff Marantz and Barb, Debra Marantz, Susan Marantz, Ellen Marantz, and brother Harvey Katz; her grandchildren, Sarah Marantz Lindenberg and Ira, David Marantz and Olivia; her great-grandchildren Rose, Izabella and Max; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Our mother was born in Fort Francis, Ontario. After meeting and marrying my father Cyril she moved to Winnipeg. Mom loved that she moved to Winnipeg and had this large Jewish community for which she became an integral part of and it became a major part of her life.
Once her youngest daughter Ellen was in school, she went to work at the family business : Marantz and son, as a bookkeeper, and worked there until her early 70s.
Irene love to go to synagogue and be a part of Rosh Pina congregation. She was also a member of the sisterhood and was very involved in the activities in and around the synagogue. She was so grateful to learn Hebrew and to be able to participate in the Shabbat and other holiday services.
She spent every summer since the birth of her eldest son Jeff, at Winnipeg Beach.
She loved the beach riding her bike, going for long walks, meeting with her beach friends, playing cards and sharing good meals.
Irene was a kind soul.
She never had a negative word to say about anybody and nobody ever had anything but a kind word to say about her.
Her family was the light of her life. She encouraged her children to pursue their dreams and be the best they could be.
She was a loving and caring grandmother to her grandchildren, and her home was always opened to them, her friends, her children’s friends and even to strangers.
Funeral was held on April 2
Pall bearers were : David Marantz, Ira Lindenberg, Allan Marantz, Ari Marantz, Stephen Rosenbloom, Hartley Katz. Honorary pall bearer: Josh Marantz
Obituaries
SYLVIA BASS NOVEMBER 19, 1924 – MARCH 14, 2025
On March 14,2025, after a very long life and a brief illness Sylvia Bass (nee Breitman) passed away peacefully. She is survived by son Ken, daughter Robyn Lerner (Neal) and grandchildren Jordyn (Tina), Shea (Anna) and Blake (Jacqueline). She is predeceased by her husband Harold and her four siblings (Alvin, Joseph, Belle and Shirley).
Sylvia was born on November 19, 1924, and had her North End Winnipeg childhood shaped by the rigours of the Great Depression. When the warehouse that employed her father went out of business in 1931 her mother, a seamstress, regularly worked late into the night to keep the family from destitution.
In 1942 Sylvia graduated from Isaac Newton High School with an A average and entered the world of work as a receptionist and secretary. In the pre- Dictaphone era this was a challenging vocation, requiring mastery of the arcane language of Gregg and Pitman shorthand. Her employers included Dr. Art Lerner and a forerunner agency of Jewish Child and Family Services.
In 1948 Sylvia met her life partner Harold Bass, an auto mechanic and auto body shop proprietor. After they married, at the fashionable Marlborough Hotel, she devoted herself to providing a home for her husband and children -Ken, born in 1950 and Robyn, in 1960. Her responsibilities increased in the Fall of 1966 when Harold decided on a radical career change, from the auto trades to government employment as a welfare worker.This meant attending an eleven month college course, available only in Brandon.
Sylvia was always sociable, enjoying the company of her Garden City neighbours, her many friends and her large extended family. For many years she was active in Pioneer Women (Na’amat), and a memorable 1971 trip to Israel strengthened her connection with the homeland. She and Harold also travelled to Chicago and Florida, as well as several trips to Las Vegas, where she indulged the Breitman family taste for gambling.
In their later years Sylvia and Harold focused their attention on their grandchildren, letting everyone know of their many and various accomplishments. Unfortunately, in 2009 Harold suffered serious health problems and was no longer able to live at home. He died the next year. Because her natural sociability made living alone out of the question Sylvia moved to the Portsmouth Retirement Residence, where she was a vital part of the community for the next sixteen years.
The funeral took place at the Chesed Shel Emes on Sunday, March 16 with interment at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery, Rabbi Anibal Mass presiding. Pallbearers were Jordyn Lerner, Shea Lerner, Blake Lerner, Harrison Katz, Ramy Penner and Benji Winestock. Neal Lerner, David Davis and Ken Bass were honorary pallbearers. Our thanks to the caring staff at the Portsmouth, JTRC Care Services and the Grace Hospital. Special thanks to Dr. Terry Babick, who cared for Sylvia for many years and helped her to reach 100.
Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to do so to an Israeli – linked charity of their choice.
Obituaries
CAROL LITMAN FEBRUARY 9, 1942 – MARCH 25, 2025
It is with heavy hearts and gratitude for a life well lived, that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Carol. She passed away March 25,2025 in Winnipeg at home with loving family and friends by her side.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, Lorry and Shirley Turbovsky, her husband Leslie Litman, her brother Eugene Turner, her sister-law Sharon Turbovsky, her brother-in-law Rabbi Jim Diamond, Leslie’s daughter Kathy Robin Litman, Leslie’s son Michael Richard Seth Litman. She leaves behind her brother Jerry Turner (Donna), her brother Harvey Turbovsky, her daughter Maureen Litman, Leslie‘s children, Lorry Litman, James Litman, Nancy Litman and Leslie’s sister Judy Diamond.
Carol was born on February 9, 1942 and grew up in the north end of Winnipeg.
In the last few months Carol received much kindness and care from many friends, family and health care teams.
Carol wanted them all to know how much she appreciated them for the care, comfort, support, and friendship they provided her.
She wanted to express her immense gratitude to her dear friends Lyla and Evon, Jennifer and Wayne, Marilyn, Linda, Carol, Estrad, and Mary-Anne, to her daughter Maureen and her late husband Leslie for all the years of love and support they shared together, to her brother Harvey for his constant support, to her niece Sheree whom she adored, to Leslie’s son James for the levity he provided her, to Leslie’s son Lorry for his tender care and devotion to her, and to the Palliative care team, the MAID team, and the Mara home care team.
Carol was the kindest, most generous person who loved life, enjoyed music and visiting with her many friends and neighbors. Carol loved to laugh and had a wicked sense of humor. Carol‘s greatest happiness came from time spent with those she loved. Her warmth, kindness and unwavering loyalty and support will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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