Obituaries
JOSEPH BRENT DINER December 9, 1942 – February 27, 2024
Joe passed away on February 27, 2024 in Victoria, BC. He had been at his home on Salt Spring Island when he suffered a heart attack on February 18.
Joe was predeceased by his parents, Clara and Lou Diner; his brother Alex; and his nephew Tristan (T.C.). He is survived by his loving wife Sandi of 44 years; his brother Richard (Mary); his nephews, Colin and Louis; and his cousins and many friends.
Joe grew up on Matheson Avenue in the north end of Winnipeg where he attended Luxton School. When he was 12 years old, he moved to Waterloo Street in River Heights and attended Kelvin High School followed by the University of Manitoba, and later the University of North Dakota and Louisiana State University where he studied political science.
Early in his career, he worked as a teacher in an indigenous community in northern Manitoba, and later he became involved in horse racing. He was the Racing Secretary at a major race track in New Orleans and also at Assiniboia Downs. For the last 40 years, his career was in commercial real estate. Joe retired in 2018, as had Sandi years earlier, and he enjoyed their time in Salt Spring Island. They always had a dog asn part of their lives. Every day, they took long walks with their dog and sometimes even a run. Their dog Ella will surely miss Joe. Salt Spring Island was Joe’s happy place. He spent several months each year there for more than 20 years. He called it Disneyland for adults.
Joe had a sterling reputation. He was a man of principle, integrity, honesty and strong moral character, and those qualities governed how he lived his life and how he conducted his business. Joe could make friends with anyone and everyone. He was personable, generous, kind, outgoing, and engaging. He genuinely liked people, and people liked him. In fact, they didn’t just like him, they loved him. Joe was great company. He was an optimist who always maintained a positive outlook on life and saw the good side of people. He was also self deprecating and humble and could be charmingly irreverent. Joe was always his own person.
We, Joe’s family and friends , are much richer for having had him in our lives. His passing leaves a gaping hole in our hearts, and our lives will never be the same without him.
Joe‘s favorite poem was Ulysses by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Come, my friends. ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite the sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are – One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Services were held at the Chesed Shel Emes and Rosh Pina Memorial Park in Winnipeg. Rabbi Kliel Rose officiated.
Pallbearers were Archie Kraut, Uri Kraut, David Kraut, Colin Diner, Louis Diner and Jack Rusen. Honorary pallbearers were David Rusen, Gary Brenner, Richard Diner and Leonard Steingarten.
If so desired, donations in Joe’s memory could be made to Temple Shalom or the Humane Society or a charity of choice.
“To live in hearts left behind is not to die”.
Joe will live in our hearts forever.
May his memory be a blessing.
Obituaries
RON (RONNIE)GREENBERG (August 28, 1946 – August 20, 2024)
We sadly announce the passing of Ron Greenberg, after a brief illness.
Predeceased by his parents, Ben and Mary Greenberg, brother Percy, in-laws Art and Doris Lerner and brother-in-law Michael Lerner.
Survived by his beloved wife Karen (Kookie) of 56 years, son Jeff (Sara), daughter Beth, grandsons Drew and Max Greenberg, and Granddogs Murphy and Duke. He is also survived by sister-in-law Bernice Greenberg, brother-in-law and sister-in-law David and Marli Lerner and sister-in-law Darlene Friesen. His loving family also included nieces and nephews, Rhonda and Rob Zakheim (Marissa and Ellie), Jordie and Kerri Greenberg (Rachel and Hallie), Cori Lerner (Sadie and Asher), Jana and Jason Wilson (Madison), and Adam Lerner (Ellie). Ron will also be remembered by many special lifelong friends from Winnipeg, Visalia and Orange County, California.
Ron was born and raised in Winnipeg where he made friendships that lasted his lifetime. He spent his early years creating memories that would become cherished stories he would recount for the rest of his life. After marrying Kookie and starting his family, Ron began a lifelong career in trucking that took him through to his retirement. His love for cars also led him to operate Lone Star Motors and Century GMC Trucks.
Family always came first with Ron and was always his passion, particularly in his later years as his family grew to include his grandsons. He supported his boys in everything they did, especially when they were on the mound or on the field. His favourite pastimes also included attending professional sporting events with Jeff and eating and drinking his way through wine country with Beth.
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing nursing staff and medical team at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach for their exceptional care and support.
A celebration of Ron’s life was held on Sunday August 25th in California.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and mailed ℅ 22 Montcalm Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R2V 2N4.
Obituaries
SHIRLEY BRODER
Shirley Broder, or “Bobby” to many, passed away on the morning of August 15, 2024. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Morris Broder, and her brother Sam Shapiro. She is survived by her sister in law Betty Shapiro and her children Harley Broder, Anita Hochman (Lyone), Ellery Broder, (Libby) and Richard Broder (Carol), loving grandchildren Jeremy and Jennifer Hochman, Daniel and Lara Hochman, Matthew and Vicky Hochman, Tamara Broder, Josh Broder, Jonathan Broder, Aron Broder (Renzo Chavez), Ethan Broder, Seth Broder, and great grandchildren Maya and Dahlia Hochman, Amalia and Cheo Hochman, and Leo Chavez. Shirley was born on July 26, 1933 in Winnipeg to Pesach and Esther Shapiro. She lived for 91 amazing years, and never went a day without a visitor.
Shirley was kind, softspoken, beautiful, generous, and caring constantly showing her concern for others. From an early age up until her passing, she was selfless, worrying about family and friends, but never herself. Shirley was an amazing homemaker, well known for offering up an abundance of food, whether hunger was a factor or not. Her cabbage rolls, cheesecake, compote and charoset were a family staple, and could never be replicated. Shirley was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Her presence and love was unconditional. Her Hebrew name is Sarah, and she truly emulated the first matriarch always providing an open and welcoming door for everyone.
A special thank you to the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre for their excellent care of Shirley in her final year, and her special caregivers Lisa and Imelda. Tears are shed for the physical loss, she will be greatly missed, but also in gratitude for the elevation of her neshama!
Obituaries
RHODA FELDMAN
Rhoda Feldman passed away peacefully at the age of 91 after a brief hospital stay, spending her last days surrounded by her loving family.
Rhoda was born in 1933, the only daughter of Sam and Lily Koven. She grew up in a basement apartment in Winnipeg’s North End. The second oldest child, she had an older brother Gerry and younger twin brothers Paul and Sorrel. With her father serving overseas in the Royal Canadian Corps of Engineers for six years during the Second World War, Rhoda often found herself as their caregiver. Despite the hardships experienced early in her life, she had fond memories of her childhood – in large part thanks to a caring family including her mother’s 4 vivacious sisters, who remained a presence over the years in which she built a family of her own. Regardless of, or due to, her humble beginnings, Rhoda dreamed big and possessed the energy and determination to make it happen.
Rhoda’s flair for writing was noticed early in her life by a supportive teacher. At a time when most women went straight from high school to focusing on marriage and family, Rhoda finished High School having worked on school newspapers and as yearbook editor, decided to pursue journalism. At the University of Manitoba, she wrote as a sports columnist and began approaching the Winnipeg Free Press regularly and persistently until she succeeded in finding a place there as a reporter.
Not long after starting, Rhoda hit the front page of the Winnipeg Free Press finding herself in the right place and time to cover a historic fire that levelled the Winnipeg Canoe Club.
Many of Rhoda’s closest lifelong friendships were established at the YMHA (The downtown Winnipeg Jewish Community Center) where she also met her future husband Zivey.
Rhoda and Zivey married in 1953, honeymooning in Las Vegas via a romantic road trip. They were a striking couple, glamourous and filled with promise for the future. She was just shy of 21, and too young to drink on her honeymoon. Two years later they welcomed their first child, Brian. Rhoda put her career on pause as she began her new role as mother, but later Rhoda’s career blossomed as she moved into fashion reporting for the Winnipeg Free Press. She travelled to major cities all over the world covering runways and trends. She had a legendary terrible sense of direction and would laugh recalling how she had gotten lost in every major city in the world.
During her career, she interviewed all the major designers of the era including Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. She also managed to secure an elusive interview with Estee Lauder, and she would reminisce about experiences at Studio 54 and meeting Andy Warhol.
An absolute force of nature, Rhoda spent years meeting deadlines at the paper and still putting together a huge spread for Shabbat dinner every Friday night where family attendance was mandatory, and friends were always welcome.
As a freelance journalist, Rhoda’s work was also seen in many papers and other mediums such as CBC Radio & Television.
The family takes comfort in the fond memories of their last celebration with Rhoda, that took place exactly one week before the day of her passing. They gathered to celebrate Rhoda and Zivey’s 71st wedding anniversary at the family home the couple lived in together for over 55 years.
Rhoda is survived by her husband, Zivey, her 5 children, Brian, Lisa (Herb), Karen (Larry), Susan, and Alan (Aviva), her 6 Grandchildren, Corinne, Leslie, Lyric, Clayton, Gabriel and Michael, and 6 Great-Grandchildren Donald, Cassidy, Ally, Eli, Reed and Sierra. She was predeceased by Brian’s wife, Colleen.
At the request of the family, if you would like to make any donations in Rhoda’s memory, please do so to the charity or organization of your choice.
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