Obituaries
A Tribute to My Brother, Archie – ARCHIE HONIGMAN – Jan. 23, 1960- Sept, 23, 2021
It is with immense sadness and grief that I’m announcing the death of my brother Archie Honigman, who died of Covid on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at the age of 61.
I’m devastated, heart-broken and in shock. My wonderful, kind, caring, loving, smart and fun brother is gone. It’s hard to comprehend.
Archie’s death is a tragedy, just like my dad’s death was a tragedy and my dad’s parents and his sisters’ deaths were tragedies. They all died way too young.
What a life Arch lived though. Growing up, it was just our dad. Archie, and me. We were a team—-incredibly close. We all took care of each other. We travelled together to many fun places like Florida and Hawaii. Then there was our most special trip to Mizerich in Ukraine (formerly Poland) to see where our dad lived as a child and to attend a very emotional and meaningful memorial service to give tribute to the Jews, including our dad’s family, who were murdered during the Holocaust. After, we went to Israel and had fun. I remember Archie and my dad posing in funny pictures with mud on their bodies at The Dead Sea. I remember Archie and me kibbitzing in Yiddish with some religious guys with payes. They were shocked that we knew Yiddish. Archie liked to have fun with his family.
Archie and I took several trips, just the two of us… to Las Vegas, Dallas, California, Virginia Beach, New Orleans, Club Med in Mexico, and Miami Beach. We always rented bikes wherever we went. We both had a passion for cycling. Archie also loved to take a million pictures of our fun adventures. And then… there were the many Jewish singles cruises that we attended. Archie, being a very handsome guy—-tall , dark and handsome, with sparkly blue eyes—-was very popular with the women and it was funny to see all of them chase after my big brother. It was also fun how during the formal nights, he always wore a sweater with cartoon characters on it. Archie was Mr. Casual and very laid back.
Archie and I also travelled to Edmonton several times to visit and celebrate the simchas of our Aunt Penny and Uncle Percy and their kids—our cousins, Reesa, Jay and Robbie Lerner. We also enjoyed fun times with them in Winnipeg Beach and Toronto.
Archie, my dad, and I always loved Toronto and, as kids, we lived there three times. My dad thought we belonged in Toronto. When I moved to Toronto, Archie helped guide me every step of the way. He visited me every month and always brought me Gunn’s bagels and poppyseed rolls and rye bread from City Bread. He would also bring Jeannie’s cakes to celebrate our birthdays. He kept a bike in my condo and we often went on long bike rides downtown. We loved to cycle together. When my son Shafer was born, he flew to Toronto on the same day and stayed for several weeks. When Brody was born, he came a day later and helped look after Shafer. He was an amazing uncle. He adored my kids and they adored their Uncle Archie.
He loved to talk with my kids on the phone and in person. They all loved to hang out together. He used to tickle them when they were small and they giggled so much. He was the ultimate fun uncle. We travelled together to Disney World several times. It was our super fun place to go together and just have a great time. In Toronto, we also had fun going to farms, apple picking, beaches and amusement parks.
My brother often acted like a kid himself and did mischievous things like goofing around in his rental cars. He would place my kids on the roof of his car in my driveway and they would all be laughing while eating licorice, his favourite candy. He always had a stash in his car.
Archie would come to Toronto each month to play and have fun with my kids, my husband Arnie, and me. He came in for all my kids’ birthday parties and many of their school plays. He loved being an active part of their lives. Archie was very proud of his nephews, Shafer and Brody Honigman Deltoff. He had many pictures of them displayed all over his house and at our cottage. We have many wonderful memories of us hanging out with him at the beach, having fun playing at the arcade, going out for ice cream and goofing around the hot tub with all of Archie’s rubber duckies. He liked hanging out on the deck, schmoozing with the many people who visited us. He was a very social person and liked when people stopped by.
So many people liked Archie…so many people loved Archie. He was the true definition of a mensch and was so kind and generous with his time, advice and gifts. I have heard countless stories of how Archie gave of his time and energy to help them in so many ways. He was known to bring really, really nice gifts whenever he was invited somewhere.
Speaking of love, no one loved him like I loved him. We had an unbreakable bond—- a brother and sister relationship like no other. We were so close… incredibly close and everyone knew how close we were. He was such an amazing, wonderful brother.
Archie, I miss you so much. I will always remember you. I will cherish our special memories.
Rest in peace, my wonderful brother… You were the best brother ever.
Love,
Brenda
Obituaries
DR. CLIFFORD LEVI
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Clifford Levi – beloved husband, father, and physician. Cliff passed away on September 15, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. Cliff was born in Winnipeg on May 28, 1951. He was the youngest of three siblings. He attended Grant Park High School, graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine in 1975, and completed his Residency in Diagnostic Radiology in 1979. In 1980, he joined the department of Ultrasound at the Health Sciences Centre. Cliff had an outstanding career in medicine. He practiced for over 44 years as a Radiologist specializing in Ultrasound. He began working in the field while it was in its infancy, and contributed greatly to its development. He contributed over 30 papers to peer-reviewed journals and 27 chapters in leading imaging textbooks. He was loved and respected by his colleagues, and viewed the Ultrasound department as his second family. He served as the department’s Section Head for 22 years. Cliff leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Carol. He was a dedicated father and will be missed dearly by his children, Kim and Jeremy. Despite his busy schedule and long work hours, he was always present when his family needed him. He would do anything for those around him. He had a strong moral compass, and was known for his exceptional kindness, quick wit, and wonderful sense of humour. He was an avid stargazer, golfer, and guitarist. Services were held on September 18, 2024 at the Chesed Shel Emes. Dr. Marvin Slutchuk, Cliff’s physician and friend, led a beautiful service that highlighted Cliff’s character and impact on those around him. The family would like to recognize the team at CancerCare Manitoba, especially Dr. James Johnston, for the exceptional quality of care Cliff received throughout his treatment. We also wish to express our thanks to Dr. Ted Lyons, Cliff’s friend and coworker of 46 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to CancerCare Manitoba or the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
RABBI CARLA ELYNN FREEDMAN
Rabbi Carla Freedman will go down in history as a trailblazer. Not only was she the first Canadian woman to be ordained as a rabbi, she was also the first rabbi in history to become a grandmother. With great sorrow, Rabbi Carla’s family announces that the trail reached its end when, after a short, but devastating illness, she passed away on Monday, September 23, 2024, just five weeks shy of her 80th birthday. Carla Elynn Freedman was a leader from the moment she was born. While studying at West Kildonan Collegiate in her hometown, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she took on her first elected leadership role, serving as President of B’nai Brith Girls, District 6. In this role, she honed her storytelling skills, winning an international championship by recounting the heroics of Hannah Senesh. She also discovered what would become a deep, lifelong love of Judaism. In 1965, shortly after the birth of her first daughter, Deborah, she became one of the earliest members of Temple Shalom, Winnipeg’s first Reform synagogue. She celebrated the birth of her second daughter, Rena, in trailblazing fashion, with the Temple’s first baby naming ceremony. After earning a B.A. in English and a master’s in educational psychology from the University of Manitoba, Carla worked as a counsellor in private practice and as a management training specialist with the federal Department of Transportation. She celebrated her 40th birthday by leaving Winnipeg to pursue her passion for Reform Judaism full time. She enrolled in Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating with a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters in 1989. She was ordained the following year, becoming the first Canadian-born woman rabbi in the process. While in rabbinical school, Carla met the love of her life, Jeanne Shanin. Carla and Jeanne spent 39 joyous years together, moving throughout the U.S. as Carla took on congregational pulpits at Beth Israel Congregation in Plattsburgh, New York, Jewish Family Congregation in South Salem, New York, and since 2013, at Beth Israel Congregation in Sun City Center, Florida. In 1992, while serving in Plattsburgh, Carla achieved her most treasured accomplishment when, upon the birth of her grandson, Jesse, she became the first rabbi in history to become a grandmother. She repeated the feat two years later, with the birth of her granddaughter, Brianna. While she had a lifelong aversion to the color green, she had a world-class green thumb and an unmatched gift for keeping her hundreds of plants healthy. She found immense joy in simple pleasures: spy novels, Israeli music, anchovies, black licorice, popcorn, Rachel Maddow, Monk, and anything from the British Isles. But by far her greatest joys were serving her congregations and spending time with her family. Rabbi Carla is survived by her soulmate, Jeanne of Riverview, Florida; her daughters, Deborah Melman-Clement (Tim) of Kingston, Ontario and Rena Rubin-Hines (Michael) of Toronto; her grandchildren, Jesse Rubin of Calgary and Brianna Rubin of Toronto; her sister, Phyllis Yaffe of Toronto; and her niece, Sarah Yaffe (Jay, Lewis, and Reya) of Toronto. She was predeceased by her parents, Lou and Yetta Freedman, and by her beloved pets, Mo and Harley. The family would like to thank all those who cared for Carla with such skill and compassion. Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 25 at Beth Israel the Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center, 1115 E Del Webb Blvd., Sun City Center, Florida, 33573, USA. Shiva Minyan with open mic tributes will follow. To view the recordings, contact cowebmaster1@jcscc.org. Shiva will also be held in Toronto from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday and Monday, September 29 and 30 at 70 Rosehill Ave., #208. Please feel free to honour Rabbi Carla’s memory with a gift to Beth Israel Congregation’s newly created Rabbi Carla Freedman Memorial Fund for the purpose of bringing to the congregation live music, speakers, and scholars in residence; or the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
MIRIAM MANDEL (nee LAZARECK)
The family of Miriam Mandel sadly announce her passing on September 24, 2024. As a beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Sister, we will deeply miss her. Her generous and kind heart, her fun and positive nature, and she always thought of others before herself. Miriam leaves her son David, daughter Emma Lee; grandchildren, Adalena, Devorah and Yehudah; her three great-grandchildren, Dina, James and Vesna; her brothers, Melvin (Karyn), Jack (Zina) and Arnold (Libby) and nephews and nieces. She will be missed by all who knew her and remembered by all.
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