Obituaries
ANNIE NOZICK (nee ROSSEN)
October 13, 1918 – October 13, 2018
Our family is so sad to announce that Anne passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at her home, in the early morning hours of her 100th birthday.
She is predeceased by her parents, Mary and Joseph Rossen, her brothers, Robert Rossen and Allyn Rossen (Doris), her sisters, Fanny Kaufman (Dave) and Dolly Silverman (Izzie), and grandchild Lori Nozick. She is also predeceased by her husband and life-partner of 62 years, Manuel Nozick. Anne is lovingly remembered and will be deeply missed by her children: Michael Nozick (Cheryl Ashley), Robert Nozick and Marcia Nozick (Doug Aason); her grandchildren, Jennifer Ritter (Alan), Kimberly Nozick, Josh Nozick (Emily), Holly Steele and Jacob Steele (Laura Montgomery); and her great-grandchildren, Brianna Ritter, Madeline Ritter, Alia Steele, Mirabai Steele, Scarlett Nozick and Cody Nozick. Anne was born and grew up in Winnipeg’s North End. She attended I.L. Peretz, Machray, and Faraday schools. She was a brilliant student and finished high school at 15 years of age. She was also a talented dancer and acrobat. Anne’s early childhood had its hardships. She lost her brother Robert and then her father within one year of each other, when she was 11 and 12 years old, and her family consequently struggled with abject poverty during the years of the Great Depression. Consequently, Anne was not able to follow her dreams of becoming a doctor, and instead got a job working as a clerk at the Nozick Commission clothing company, on Albert Street. Even though her life had hardships, Anne never lost her spunk and enthusiasm for life. She was social and vivacious. She attended community dances, and proudly told us that her dance card was always full. Through her workplace, she met her future husband Manuel, and they were married in 1939. After his retirement until he passed in 2001, they spent 20 years wintering as snowbirds in Florida. Anne and Manuel built a beautiful life together. Known to those who loved them as Annie and Mannie, or Annual and Manual, they raised their three children in a loving home. Anne was active in various Jewish organizations, including Hadassah Wizo, ORT, and the National Council of Jewish Women. She became a self-taught (and truly excellent) piano player. She enjoyed golf, bridge, canasta, and Mah-Jong. She was a master chef and baker, and so many of her delicious recipes live on through her children and grandchildren. She could do anything she set her mind to. She was always laughing and smiling, and she always had a sparkle in her eye. Anne, together with Manuel, took so much joy in being grandparents. To her grandchildren, she was Grandma Bunny, or Grandma, and she simply doted on all of them. She always made time for visits, sleepovers, special meals and treats, and visits to Florida in the wintertime. She had a compassionate ear and sage advice. She made everyone feel special. Anne was always fiercely independent and strong-willed. She coped with and grieved the loss of her husband in 2001, and then rebuilt her active life surrounded by family, friends, and the hobbies she always loved. She became a great-grandmother and built meaningful relationships with her great-grandchildren. Anne lived independently well into her 90s. She continued to drive and buy her own groceries. She embraced change and technology and became a user of Facebook and Netflix. She always had a passion for life and a love of experiencing new things, and she lived her life to the fullest. The last few years brought their share of physical challenges for Anne, and she handled them with courage, mettle, and grace. At age 96, she had a terrible fall and required a four-month hospital stay to mend her shattered pelvis. Her care team was astounded when she almost completely recovered, save for usually using a walker to reduce the risk of falling again. Following her discharge, Anne moved into Shaftesbury Park Assisted Living. She made new friends and embraced crosswords, Sudoku, Chair Zumba, and Brain Games. She took impeccable care of her appearance, and she always wore a flower in her perfectly coiffed hair. Although she became increasingly frail over the last few years, she never lost her mental acuity and wit, and she took great pride in her memory and attention to detail. She didn’t ever forget a birthday or an anniversary, and she didn’t let us forget them either. There was always a phone call and a card, and sometimes even another phone call reminder. Anne embraced her age and the passage of time. She was reflective of her experiences, and she fondly remembered and talked about the family and friends that predeceased her. She treasured the relationships she had, and she told us that she loved us, often. She claimed that she hated people knowing her age, but loved telling people. She was so looking forward to the celebration of her 100th birthday party. Our family is heartbroken that we didn’t get to celebrate her birthday with her, yet, our family is blessed and we were all enriched, to have had a person like her in our lives, and we are truly grateful that we had her for so long. She was vital, happy, young at heart and so full of life and laughter, through to her very last day. Annie was interred on October 15 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We are grateful to pallbearers, Alan Ritter, Michael Ritter, Ted Lyons, Bobby Goldberg, Josh Nozick and Jacob Steele. Our family are also so grateful to Neva who attended to so many of Anne’s needs, and to her caregivers and companions, especially Odessa and Victoria, and others from Esther’s Group, for their love and care for Anne over the last few years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Manuel and Anne Nozick Fund at The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, Diabetes Canada – Manitoba Division or Parkinsons Society Manitoba.
Obituaries
MICKEY HOCH
April 3, 1930 – March 23, 2025
It is with profound sadness that the family of Mickey Hoch announces his passing.
Mickey leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience, survived by his children from his first marriage: Irv (Michele Rose), Jeff (Janet), and Michele (Gerry Faintuch); grandchildren, Ashley, Stephanie, and Dylan; great-grandchildren, Moshe, Emelia, and Yehoshua. He is also survived by his stepson Marc (Debbie) Meyers; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 44 years, Rita; his parents, Simcha and Fanny; and his four siblings, David, Miriam, Yosi, and Avrum.
Born in Gurahontz, Romania, Mickey’s childhood was marked by adventure and exploration. He spent his early years fishing, hiking, and horseback riding, with Shabbat being a cherished time in his home. Despite the challenges of growing up during difficult times, Mickey’s resilience and determination shone through. He was entrepreneurial from a young age, learning the ropes of business from his parents and starting work in their store. When the Second World War forced his family to relocate to Arad, Mickey started his first business at the age of nine, selling snacks near a concert hall. He also delivered newspapers and worked in a candy factory. During the war, his family was moved to a ghetto, and Mickey bravely aided Polish refugees and supported people in labour camps by delivering food, money, and mail.
In 1948, Mickey immigrated to Winnipeg, while his family moved to Israel. He began his new life working at Crown Cap and soon launched his own hat factory in the basement of the Mazo home, his adopted family. From these humble beginnings, he expanded the business into a large garment company that produced hats, parkas, and pants, eventually employing over 400 people at Century 21 Apparels. Mickey was known as a respected and fair employer, regarded as one of Winnipeg’s leading apparel manufacturers.
A pioneer in workforce development, Mickey traveled to the Philippines in the 1960s through the Manitoba Fashion Institute, where he recruited garment workers. He helped bring the first group of Filipino workers to Winnipeg, providing them opportunities and a new life. Decades later, those same workers held a banquet in his honour to thank him for his profound impact on their lives.
In the late 1970s, Mickey joined sons, Jeff and Irv to start Century 21 Promotions in Seattle. After returning to Winnipeg in 1987, he co-founded Marathon Threads Canada with his daughter Michele, working there well into his 90s. Mickey remained an active and respected figure in both the garment and promotional product industries.
Outside of work, Mickey was deeply involved in his children and grandchildren’s lives. He spent countless weekends enjoying outdoor activities such as boating, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, and racquet sports. In his later years, he took joy in cycling, poker, and bridge with friends.
Mickey travelled extensively, exploring destinations in Asia, South America, the U.S., Israel, and more. He especially cherished travelling with his granddaughters, with memorable trips to Alaska, Europe, Israel, and beyond.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Lisa for the love and care she gave Mickey, calling her his best friend.
Though his journey has come to an end, Mickey’s love, legacy, and remarkable story will live on in all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Mickey and Rita Hoch Fund” supporting the Holocaust Education Centre at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 204-477-7520.
Obituaries
FREYA WASEL JANUARY 21, 1948 – APRIL 5, 2025
With great sadness and broken hearts the family of Freya Wasel announces that she passed away peacefully in her home in Edmonton on April 5, 2025. Freya was born in St. Boniface Hospital on January, 21, 1948 and grew up on Inkster Blvd. in the north end of Winnipeg. She attended Inkster, Luxton, and St. John’s schools and received awards for academic achievement. She also attended Peretz Yiddish night school.
Freya continued her studies at the University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and majoring in physics. She married Lewis during her final year of university. After graduation she was employed by the Manitoba Telephone System for two years in the traffic and engineering departments. She then left the work force to bear and raise her children, Norman and Rebecca.
Ten years after her first university graduation, Freya returned to the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Education. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree and then began a new career as a teacher. Freya taught at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Fort Garry for 21 years. Her primary subject was physics, but she is also remembered for an extra-curricular activity. She coordinated and chaperoned student tours to foreign countries during spring break periods. Those tours enabled her to travel to every continent except Antarctica. Freya retired prematurely
and moved to Edmonton to take care of her grandchildren.
Freya was predeceased by her parents, Alvin and Anne Gardner and her brother Norman Gardner. She is survived by Lewis, her husband of 57 years, her son Norman (Leanne) Wasel, daughter Rebecca (Shane) Asbell, grandchildren Aliza (Eitan), Daniella, Asher, Hila, Zev, Yaffa, Caleb, Koby and Yoni. Freya is also survived by her brother Arnold Gardner, sister Rhoda (Sid) Greenstone, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ellen and Ron Dlin, uncle and aunt Hy and Donna Dubo, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Freya was known for her friendly nature and smile. She made everyone with whom she interacted feel important. She was very caring for her students who in return treated her with respect and affection. Freya was community minded and participated in many charitable organizations. She is dearly missed but leaves us with fond memories and her spirit will remain with us.
Obituaries
ROSE SLUTSKY DECEMBER 2, 1937 – MAY 26, 2025
With great sorrow but deep gratitude for the time we shared, we announce the passing of Rose Slutsky (née Zipper), who left this world on May 26, 2025, in Vancouver, BC. She is survived by her beloved children—Sam, David, Judy, and Morley—her seven treasured grandchildren— Melanie, Tamara, Joshua, Brett, Jesse, Daliah, and Tevi—and two great-grandchildren, Isaac and Lewis.
Born in Galicia, Poland, to devoted parents Samuel and Manya Goldhirsch, Rose’s early years were filled with the richness of language, learning to speak German, Russian, Polish, French, and Hebrew before later teaching herself English and Yiddish. She endured unimaginable loss as a Holocaust survivor, losing nearly all her family except for her mother and cousins who escaped to another country before the war began. Yet, even in the face of profound grief, she chose a life of resilience, generosity, and love.
Family was everything to Rose. Knowing firsthand the irreplaceable value of loved ones, she built a home filled with laughter, warmth, food and unwavering support. After immigrating to Canada in 1950, she married Paul Slutsky,
and together they raised four children. Her devotion extended beyond her family to her community, where she proudly supported her children and grandchildren in their academic pursuits, cheering them on as they followed paths in law, medicine, physiotherapy, and international relations and data programming. We can all hear still her saying to us “believe in yourself always”.
Rose had a gift for making people feel seen and valued. She would brighten a stranger’s day with a compliment, welcome anyone who needed comfort into her home, and forge friendships that lasted a lifetime. Her vibrant circle of friends in Winnipeg and Richmond became her extended family, offering companionship and joy throughout the years.
A woman of extraordinary talent, Rose carved her own path as a salesperson for People’s Jewelers, becoming the company’s top seller in Western Canada for many years running. Her eye for beauty, paired with her personable nature, made her exceptional at what she did. She was a proud member of the Pioneer Women organization and Beth Tikvah Synagogue, tirelessly working to support Israel and the local Jewish community. Most profoundly, she dedicated herself to sharing her story of survival, ensuring that future generations would never forget the atrocities of war. Her courage and unwavering spirit inspired her family to pursue lives of service and generosity. “What life gives you, you must give back,” she often said—a philosophy she embodied every day. Rose’s artistic spirit was deeply ingrained in her. The daughter of a Paris-trained couturier and a talented shoe designer, she inherited a keen eye for color and form. From sketching designs as a child to creating stunning oil paintings later in life, she found solace and expression through art. Her work was proudly exhibited at the Richmond Art Gallery, a testament to her creativity and passion.
In keeping with her name, Rose nurtured life with tenderness and care. Her garden was a sanctuary—filled with fruit trees, vegetables, and grapevines. Each spring, she delighted in planting flowers, braving mischievous squirrels just to see her blooms flourish. But nothing brought her more joy than cooking for her family. Passover was her cherished holiday, her heart swelling with pride as her loved ones gathered around the table to savor her homemade delicacies. From knishes and kugel to chocolate cake and pickles, her culinary creations were a labor of love that filled every celebration with warmth.
Though Rose has now reunited with her mother, father, and husband, her love remains woven into the fabric of her family, her friendships, and the lives she touched. Her story—a testament to perseverance, kindness, and devotion—will live on, carried forward by those who werefortunate enough to know her.
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