Obituaries
YETTA LEVIT
With heavy hearts and much love, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Yetta Levit, at the age of 96.
Mom was born on May 6, 1928, into a close-knit orthodox family with three sisters and two brothers. She attended William Whyte School, Talmud Torah night school and St. John’s Tech. During her youth she was involved in Young Judea and was later active in the I.L. Peretz School. She met our dad Jack when she was 18 and they married four years later. They had three children.
Mom had a gift for seeing the good in everybody. Her welcoming smile and the way she truly listened made everyone feel special. She lit up the room with her warm, vivacious personality.
She was young at heart and had an incredible zest for life. Her energy was remarkable. Everything was a new adventure that she couldn’t wait to undertake. Every person was a rich encounter.
Mom had a special love for little children. She effortlessly engaged with them and always made them smile and feel special. Her appreciation for beauty extended to everything in nature. She never missed an opportunity to admire colourful flowers or marvel at a Banyan tree in Hawaii. She taught us to slow down and see the world through her eyes, always pointing out the beauty that surrounded us.
As our family record keeper, she lovingly recorded every detail of our lives. She was unbelievably organized. Once when we asked to find an invoice from her wedding five decades earlier, she located it within minutes.
Theatre and music were a big part of her life. She had season’s tickets to the opera, to MTC, to the ballet and to the symphony. In later years, when illness slowly diminished her mobility and spontaneity, her strength of character and good, calm nature remained. Music comforted her and she attended the Stay Young Club and Gwen Secter.
Mom built a close-knit Jewish home full of Yiddishkeit and Zedakah – her focus always being on keeping the family close. Friday night dinners were very special with all the children and grandchildren gathered around, lighting the shabbat candles. Mom especially enjoyed sharing shabbat and holiday dinners with her siblings. It gave her such pleasure being the hostess at these simchas – she just sparkled!
Mom was a very devoted and loving daughter to her parents, Tybel and Beryl. Her dedication to them as unparallelled, which she demonstrated by caring for them with compassion, patience and unwavering commitment. She also treated our dad’s parents, Velodie and Molly, as her own.
Mom and dad spent 64 wonderful years together until his passing in 2014. She was always there to support Dad’s many creative business endeavours. Her wise counsel helped make everything easier. The saying “behind every great man is a great woman” couldn’t be more true.
Travel was an enjoyable and important part of her life. She loved our family trips where she was excited to expose us to different cultures, different geography and different experiences. She also loved travelling with her siblings and friends.
Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband Jack, parents, Tybel and Beryl Minuk, sisters, Molly Lachter (Norman), Clara Zamick (Max), Evie Rosenbaum (Jack) and brothers, Harry Minuk (Annette) and Norman Minuk (Goldie); her parents-in-law. Molly and Velodie Levit and sister-in-law Eva Moser (Leo). She was the last of a very close-knit family.
She is survived by her children, Diane (Raymond), Shelley (Jaye) and Keith (Linda), her grandchildren, Brent (Anna), Tara (Jed), Darren, Hannah, Marina, Vanessa and Natasha and her great-grandchildren, Micah and Ivy and many nieces and nephews.
We are extremely grateful for the kindness and gentleness shown by mom’s wonderful caregivers, many of whom have felt like extended family to us. They are Marga Torres, Terry Cristobal, Nancy Bilibli, Lorenza del Rosario, Sally Magana, Fe Yap, Cathy Tan, Ginah Guaro and Evelyn Dela Cruz.
We also extend special thanks to Dr. Fotti and family friend Dr. Manishen for their genuine compassion and concern.
Pallbearers were Raymond Hall, Darren Hall, Brent Calnitsky, Jaye Miles, Sheldon MInuk and Mark Golub.
Mom lived her life as a beacon of selflessness. Her heart had room for everyone.
Mom, you gave us so much. You taught us to love deeply, to cherish family and family traditions, and to find joy in the simplest things.
You are loved beyond measure. You will be missed. You will be remembered.
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| David Harold Diamond | David ben Avraham Yehoshua haLevi | 08/04/1929 | 09/06/2026 | 24 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sidney Green | Simcha ben Aharon v’Rosa | 01/08/1929 | 07/06/2026 | 22 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Cecile Kowall | Tzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata | 24/05/1935 | 03/06/2026 | 18 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Joan Hargrave | Chana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina | 14/07/1953 | 01/06/2026 | 16 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Irwin Barry Stronger | Yitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila | 16/09/1941 | 31/05/2026 | 15 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| David Ivan Cohen | David Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba | 06/06/1956 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Maxine Hochman | Tziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther | 31/12/1940 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Alvin Murray Zivot | Avraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam | 03/08/1931 | 27/05/2026 | 11 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Tova Vickar | Tova bat Nachum v’Yenta | 24/08/1949 | 22/05/2026 | 6 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Karen Leipsic | Chaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel | 03/04/1944 | 21/05/2026 | 5 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Lee Dana | Fayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya | 05/10/1936 | 17/05/2026 | 1 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Betty Brina Simon | Bayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam | 27/07/1935 | 15/05/2026 | 28 Iyar 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Basia Bayla Fliegel | Bayla bat Leib | 31/05/1930 | 13/05/2026 | 26 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Harold Diamond | Tzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana | 04/12/1935 | 12/05/2026 | 25 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gary Rayburn | Gershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha | 21/09/1965 | 09/05/2026 | 22 Iyar 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Ray Schnoor | Raizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel | 13/06/1927 | 05/05/2026 | 19 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gila Ruth Fainstein | Rachel bat Kiva v’Leah | 25/06/1935 | 04/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Toby Schwartz | Chaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana | 16/07/1932 | 01/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rachel Wolman | Rachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka | 03/02/1962 | 24/04/2026 | 7 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Leah Gitlin | Laya bat Yosef v’Frayda | 04/09/1926 | 08/04/2026 | 21 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Lin Joseph Rosenbaum | Yosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah | 17/10/1952 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Norman Stein | Nachum ben Avraham v’Chaya | 10/06/1932 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Marvin Saul Silver | Menachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel | 20/11/1941 | 05/04/2026 | 18 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Kimberley Dawn Kirshenbaum | Isabella bat Avraham v’Sarah | 09/12/1969 | 03/04/2026 | 17 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Walter Ganetsky | Zev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah | 23/09/1940 | 02/04/2026 | 15 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Lorelei Camille Lavitt | Rachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa | 11/04/1936 | 26/03/2026 | 8 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Melvin Myers | Moshe ben Chaim v’Rachel | 24/04/1936 | 24/03/2026 | 7 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/
Obituaries
DAVEY (DAVE) CHOCHINOV
With his family by his side, Dave passed away, peacefully at home, on February 13, 2026, at the age of 92. Dave was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, father Alex and mother Rose; brothers Jack, Ben, Moishe and Harvey; sisters-in-law Mary Chochinov, Loretta Chochinov, Sherry Chochinov, Marion Golfman, and Belva Shaff, and brother-in-law Ralph Shaff.
He is survived and will be lovingly remembered by his children, Paul (Cathy Carey), Linda (Allan Sand), Sheldon, and Andrea; his adored grandchildren, Alex, Jeffrey, Matthew, Celene (Scott Campbell), Abbey, Claire, Eli (Pam Pilon) and Josh; great-grandchildren, Kate, Jacob, Holden and Hayes; brother-in-law Archie Cham, sister-in-law Shelley Chochinov; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Dave was born on January 15, 1934, the youngest of five sons. He attended Machray School, St. John’s High School and the University of Manitoba, where he graduated from the faculty of Pharmacy. On October 11, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor, and remained married for the next 48 years until Eleanor’s passing on October 17, 2003.
After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Dave opened a pharmacy located in the River Heights area. After several years operating his pharmacy he arrived at the conclusion that he was not happy practising as a pharmacist and a career change was required. In the mid 1960’s, with a spouse, three young children at home and one on the way, he continued working as a pharmacist, then spent a couple of years selling life insurance before deciding to pursue a path in accounting. In 1973, he completed his course of studies in accounting and obtained his designation as a Certified General Accountant. In late 1975, he opened his own accounting practice, located at 1850 Main St. His professional accounting career also included terms as President of the CGA association of Manitoba and Canada. He continued active participation in the accounting firm until 2003.
During his retirement Dave spent his days scanning photos in the family albums and sending them to his children so that they would have a rich legacy of memories to keep and pass on to their own families. When he could not drive for a time, his grandson Alex would be available to take him wherever he needed to go. They spent much time discussing the human condition, vocabulary, music, cuisine preferences, and the good old days. A tough man from a tough generation, family was everything to him. Dave had an extremely close relationship with his four older brothers, and we believe he would say that his fondest memories were the times spent at family gatherings. Whenever there was a big get-together or a Chochinov reunion, he would always remark, “It was great … the family was together.”
He was also a great sounding board for anyone who needed advice and gave quality and insightful input. He was fiercely passionate about family. In his later years he started to compile an all-encompassing family tree and in doing so he discovered long lost relatives still in the old country and ended up opening a line of communication with them. He loved technology as well and started using computers as soon as the first ones were available. He had a unique sense of humor and sent group e-mails of cartoons and jokes to friends and family daily that added joy to the lives of those privileged to be on the email list. It was also his way of staying in touch and letting people know he was thinking of them.
Funeral services were held on February 16 at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Chochinov, Shel Chochinov, Alex Chochinov, Jeff Chochinov, Yale Chochinov, Jordan Chochinov, Tyler Chochinov and Matthew Strachan.
Obituaries
PHYLLIS HOCHMAN
With great sadness we announce that beloved wife, mom, and Baba, Phyllis (Zelickson) Hochman passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Winnipeg.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Paula (Warren Zimmerman) and her one and only granddaughter, Abby, her greatest joy, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Phyllis was born in Winnipeg in 1940 to Walter and Esther Zelickson. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her sister, Sylvia Oberman, and her beloved husband of 53 years, Benny Hochman.
Phyllis grew up on Burrows Avenue with close friends and family. She worked at Leon A. Brown Ltd., an insurance company. Family was at the center of her world. Phyllis devoted her life to caring for those she loved, always making sure everyone was taken care of. Whether it was offering a helping hand, a listening ear, or words of encouragement, she was always there when needed.
Phyllis was known for her beautiful smile, warm heart, and joyful laughter. Her presence brought comfort, happiness, and strength to those around her.
As a mother, she was simply the best, loving and endlessly supportive. As a Baba, she filled Abby’s life with affection, guidance, and countless special memories that will be treasured forever. As a mother in law, Warren was like a son to her and they had a beautiful relationship.
Phylls was 19 when she met the love of her life, Benny Hochman. They were married in 1970 and together they created a beautiful family. They showed their daughter, Paula, true love, commitment, and partnership. Their greatest joy was being together and creating memories with family and friends.
Phyllis will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.
The funeral was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Chesed Shel Emes with burial at Rosh Pina Memorial Park, presided by Rabbi Kliel Rose. Pallbearers were Warren Zimmerman, Dr. Wayne Manishen, Michael Hochman, Larry Hochman, Sherman Greenfeld, and Michael Charach. If desired, contributions can be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, The Simkin Centre, or a charity of your choice.

