Dina passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully on January 1st, 2023, at the age of 70 with her beloved Bruce by her side. In a moment, she was gone.
Dina is survived by her loving husband Bruce, her daughter Morissa (Laurie McCreery), and her cherished Ssister Mimi (Earl Singer). Dina also leaves behind her auntie Tova, cousins, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, colleagues, students, and countless loved ones that will all miss her warm smile and extra-special hugs.
Dina was born in Israel on April 26th, 1952 to Moishe and Etta Weiszner (nee Kahan). Moishe and Etta knew each other from before the war, reconnected in Oradea after the liberation of the Holocaust, and on July 14, 1946 they were married. They welcomed their first daughter together, Mimi (Frieda) on June 25, 1947 before emigrating from Romania to seek a better life in Israel in August of 1950. Life there was not easy in those early years of Israel’s independence, but they had their faith and their freedom, and on April 26, 1952 in Haifa, their second daughter, Dina was born. Moishe, Etta, Mimi, and Dina immigrated to Canada on November 24, 1952 and settled in Winnipeg where they began their life anew. Although they began with practically no monetary treasures, they were very rich with priceless treasures: their freedom, their deep connection to the Jewish faith, their religion and traditions, their love and devotion to each other and their family, their skills, ambition, and the determination to make a good life.
Moishe and Etta succeeded and exceeded their goals. They made a great home, family, friends, and life which could be felt in the respect flowing out to and in from everyone they encountered. Dina was a testament to their love and devotion, and that same love and devotion continues to ripple out through each of us who knew her and loved her. We are better for having known her. The world is better, simply because she was.
Dina and her sister Mimi were steeped in rich traditions and meaningful practices that continue to be passed down from generation to generation to this day. Her love of family and appreciation for life made Dina a beacon of light to all she encountered. Whether you were looking to share a laugh or simply needed a little extra love, she was unconditionally there. To see ourselves through Dina’s eyes was one of the greatest gifts that life could offer. She saw the best in us, and she believed in us wholeheartedly – even when we struggled to do the same for ourselves.
Here are a few words that her beloved friend and mentor, Cantor Tracy Kasner, lovingly wrote in Dina’s eulogy, just as Dina’d requested – “for some day”:
Dina appreciated how things looked without being vain. She valued her surroundings without being materialistic. Most of all, and above anything else, she embraced thoughts and people with tenacity, wonder, and pure love. She could bounce around an idea for hours and analyze. Most fascinating was how she would hold on to an idea and let it grow, and she wanted to inspire others to do the same… to want to also make the world better, even if only to improve one thing. Her persistence was sometimes exhausting, until you realized you were in the embrace of a woman who felt that (true to her Hebrew name, Dina, translating to mean “judgement”) critical thinking and evaluation were the ultimate ways to show our appreciation of life. Every moment mattered to her, from the way a synagogue ebulletin looked, to major social justice scenarios.
Nothing was mundane – and especially not anything to do with the goings on of Bruce, Morissa, and Laurie. After 48 years of marriage to Bruce (following a marriage proposal that began with “Hey Dina. Take a look in the glove box.” because he thought it was so romantic) I am flooded by the memory of her words that she “knows how lucky she is to have such a good one in Bruce”, and then the ultimate gift: “A teacher for the teacher” – her daughter Morissa, about whom she would say, gave her the most profound lessons in life… perhaps unknowingly as a child, and in her adult life, knowingly – as her best friend. And Dina’s love continued to grow as she got to know her daughter-in-law Laurie, whom she and Bruce consider another daughter in every way. Laurie’s love for, and devotion to Morissa was amongst the greatest gifts and joys of Dina’s life. Their birthdays being only two days apart, Dina and Laurie shared an extra-special bond and many Taurus traits that they loved to joke about together. Their love transcended bloodlines and embodied the true meaning of family.
I am sure that many of you have a Dina story that reflects what it felt like to be welcomed by her… embraced by her. Like family, you belonged with her. This all makes me think of our sanctuary here at Etz Chayim Synagogue where Dina was a fixture in both her presence and her leadership. She was in synagogue often, and in this regard, she was a woman of predictability. She had her favorite spots and her famous facial expressions: The face that came with the pure joy of t’fillah and learning, and then the one for mindless chatter (or any noise whatsoever), other than the words of Rabbi Kliel or the sound of prayer. She had been synagogue President, was a devoted fellow congregant, a friend, and family to anyone finding themselves alone and without a place of belonging. Whether in life or at the high holidays, she and Bruce welcomed people into their world and home, openly, and without question. A great example of this could be found in recent years as they shared their home with “Cousin Arnie,” which continues to be a blessing in disguise to this very day. Dina didn’t just love sharing her home (and kitchen) with Arnie, she insisted he give at least six months’ notice should he ever decide to move out. He and his loved ones were a welcome addition to daily life. Once again, with Dina, everyone simply belonged without question.
Even before she retired and found herself embedded into the fabric of her synagogue, the magic of Dina was a gift to her students and peers in Adult Education. As a teacher she worked to bring out the love of learning in everyone around her. She taught so much more than math and focused on what is necessary to succeed. As Department Head she worked to make the quality of education more important than the politics of our education system. The relationships she forged and maintained with her colleagues, and even some students, lived on until the day of her sudden passing.
Dina had a great appreciation for anyone with a flair for artistic expression, mathematics, a good Yiddish curse, or a great pair of glasses. These all got an extra-special endorsement from Dina. She saw what people were capable of, and she valued people reaching for their potential in every way. All you had to do was ask and she was there in support. Whether with money, time, or her energy, she helped with editing, or cooking, or baking, and just generally showing up in any way that was required. She loved to find ways to connect and be helpful, which was most evident in her beloved role as “Auntie Dina” over the years. This was clearest in her greatest routine joy of picking up her Great-Nephew Ethan and Great-Niece Annie from school each week, simply to hang out, catch up, and help with their homework if needed.
Everyone and everything mattered to her. I wish for all of us that this could be the lesson we take from her life as a bold response to her leaving this world – in our minds: too soon, too quickly. I imagine she would still reflect on her days and tell you how lucky she was to have known you and to have spent any time in this world – and I think that is her greatest lesson. Tishi nishmatah tsrurah btzur Chayim – may her soul be bound up in the bond of life, may she forever rest in peace, and we can all say, amen.]
Thank you, Tracy, for capturing my Mom’s life and spirit so beautifully. Thank you for the connection you shared, and for helping us all to reflect on her life and remember her true essence.
Dina literally left us all a final message the day before her passing – a mass email sent December 31st, 2022 that simply stated: “We feel so blessed that you are in our lives…. Love, Dina and Bruce.” – along with an attached image that said: “Enjoy the next chapter. May you be proud of the work you have done, the person you are, and the difference you have made.”
In lieu of flowers and gifts, we ask you to please consider a donation to support the Etz Chayim Synagogue. Dina was deeply invested in the preservation and growth of Jewish Living and in the opportunity for every one of every faith to have a safe space of belonging, always. This synagogue and community have served as a healing home away from home for her and our family in every way. She was so excited for the future of the new Etz Chayim, and in light of the exciting plans for a new location that were recently announced, donations for Dina will be used to help fund a special legacy project to support the continued growth of her beloved sanctuary in her absence.
Donations can be made online at
https://www.congregationetzchayim.ca/ or by calling the synagogue office at (204) 589-6305.
In closing, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the incredible outpouring of support in the form of donations, meals, and love that have already been received over the past month in honor of Dina. We are deeply grateful.