Obituaries
SONDRA GOODMAN
It is with profound sadness that the family of Sondra Goodman announces her passing on Friday, October 2nd, 2020, in Calgary, Alberta, one month shy of her 80th birthday.
After a year long battle with lung cancer, she died at home, peacefully, in her sleep.
Sondra was born in Winnipeg to the late Gertie and Harry Knelman, and grew up in a rich and warm environment surrounded by her sisters, cousins, and a large extended family. Sondra was active in many jewish youth organizations and always had many friends. She excelled academically and loved learning, and this love carried on through her life and was passed on to her children and grandchildren. Sondra received her Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education, and she had a 33 year teaching career that included time as a teacher, counsellor, assistant principal and principal, as well as a second career as a career placement counsellor.
It was at the wedding of her favourite teacher that she met her soon to be husband George Goodman, and after a two year courtship, was happily and lovingly married to him for 60 years. They were thrilled with the arrival of daughter Robin and son Saul, and eventually with the inclusion of daughter-in-law Christine and grandchildren Rachel and Elisha, with whom she had a special bond.
Sondra’s family meant everything to her, and if they were happy, she was happy. She was always there providing love, guidance, support and a shoulder to cry on. Nothing made Sondra happier than to be with her children and grandchildren, and she loved having the whole family together for Passover, the High Holidays, and any other occasion she could think of. She was a person who was deeply kind, empathetic and loving, and had a wonderful, gentle and wry sense of humour. She was the lynchpin of the family, and is mourned and will be deeply and forever missed by her husband, children and grandchildren. She will also be deeply missed by her sisters Phyllis (Ron) Levin and Dena (Jack) Perlov, sisters-in-law Sylvia Richman, Judy Goodman and Audrey (Phillip) Unger and a large extended family.
The family is grateful for the friendship and help they received from Yordi Binning, and for the sage advice and wisdom of Dr. Stephanie Kerwin. Donations may be made to the Sondra Goodman Memorial Fund at the Jewish Family Service of Calgary, or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| Sheldon Paul Nemy | Solomon ben Moshe haKohen v’Rachel | 01/04/1947 | 23/06/2026 | 8 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Cemetery | More Info |
| Murray Kadys | Moshe ben Shmuel v’Bayla | 12/01/1945 | 19/06/2026 | 4 Tamuz 5786 | Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Ave | More Info |
| Richard Gordon | Yitzchak ben Yaakov v’Dina | 06/11/1943 | 14/06/2026 | 29 Sivan 5786 | Grays’ Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa MB | More Info |
| 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/
Uncategorized
KAREN LEIPSIC
April 3, 1944 – May 21, 2026
Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend, Chaya Tova bat Raisel v’Calman.
Born on April 3, 1944, in Saskatchewan, Karen (Chaya Tova) was raised in a deeply rooted Jewish home built by parents whose courage and resilience shaped generations to come. Her father, Calman, was born on the Lipton Baron Hirsch colony, established by Jewish immigrants seeking refuge and opportunity in Canada. Her mother, Rose Bercovici, emigrated from Solitza, Romania, in 1930, leaving behind family and a world she would never see again. Together, they created a home grounded in love, Yiddishkeit, chesed, and unwavering Jewish pride.
Raised initially in Dysart, Saskatchewan, and later in Melville, Karen grew up surrounded by family, Jewish tradition, and a close-knit prairie Jewish community that remained central to her identity throughout her life. She spoke often and lovingly of those formative years and carried their values with her always.
As a young woman, she moved to Winnipeg, where she built a new chapter of her life with her best friend Shirley Anne Teplitsky Z”L and soon met the love of her life, Peter who was a devoted husband to the very last moments. They married in 1970 and together built a home filled with warmth, laughter, resilience, ahavat Yisrael, and unconditional love.
She was a fiercely devoted mother who believed deeply in the limitless potential of her children. Her love, encouragement, and strength shaped every aspect of their lives. She taught her family to be proud Jews, to carry themselves with dignity and confidence, and never to fear adversity. Her support was constant, her standards high, and her love unwavering.
Karen had an unique gift to make people feel seen and special. She was incredibly warm and kind and would never miss an opportunity to take time to engage with everyone she encountered each in a unique and personal way sharing support and kindness with everyone she met. She saw the uniqueness in all of humanity in a fashion that is so incredibly rare.
In 2001 and 2004, she welcomed a cherished daughter-in-law Karly and son-in law Kevin into the family. To her they were simply her children. She loved them with the same depth and constancy. In 2004 she embraced what would become one of the great joys of her life: becoming “Bobbie.” Nothing brought her greater happiness than her grandchildren. She adored each of them uniquely and completely, delighting in their personalities, interests, accomplishments, and everyday moments. From Shabbos dinners and movie nights to family trips in Spain and Costa Rica and Israel, Disneyland adventures, and countless chaggim and seders celebrated together, she created memories that will remain treasured forever.
Karen lived with extraordinary Jewish pride and a profound love for her people. Her life embodied resilience, humour, love and devotion to family. She remained deeply connected to her roots, her upbringing, and the traditions she inherited and passed forward.
Even in her final months, she continued to bring her family together through shared travels, laughter, conversations, and moments of closeness that are now cherished gifts. Though her illness came suddenly and heartbreakingly, the love she gave over a lifetime remains enduring and immeasurable.
She leaves behind a heartbroken but deeply grateful family: her beloved husband Peter; her children Sarah (Kevin) and Jonathon (Karly); her treasured grandchildren Isabella Rose, Hugh, Carsyn, Ryann, Cole, Ty, and Sydney; extended family; lifelong friends; and all those whose lives were enriched by her warmth, strength, wisdom, and kindness.
Her family wishes to express profound gratitude to the many relatives, friends, caregivers, and members of the community who supported them with love, compassion, prayers, and acts of kindness during her illness.
Tehei nishmatah tzrurah bitzror hachayim — may the soul of Chaya Tova bat Raisel v’Calman be bound in the bonds of eternal life.
May her memory forever be a blessing to her family, her friends, and all of Klal Yisrael.
Obituaries
DAVID H. DIAMOND
David H. Diamond, born on April 8, 1929, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026, at the age of 97.
Dave grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Penn State University. He proudly served in the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
In 1955, he married Miriam, and together they shared more than 70 years of devotion, partnership, and love.
Dave was a proud and loving father to Sharon (Hillel) and Aubie (Susan); a cherished grandfather to Josh (Samantha), Azriel (Carrie), Daniel (Jenn), Yael (Yoel), and Noah (Tali); and a beloved great-grandfather to 13 great-grandchildren, all of whom are his treasured legacy.
David excelled in his business ventures and was highly regarded and respected by all who knew and worked with him as a man of unwavering integrity.
The family extends enduring gratitude to the staff on Weinberg 3 at the Simkin Centre, who cared for Dave with exceptional love, kindness, and compassion.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.
Donations in David’s memory may be made to the Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund through the Jewish Foundation at 204-477-7520.

