Obituaries
ARNOLD MARGOLIS
Dec 28, 1929 – Nov 22, 2018
Unexpectedly, in the comfort of his home, aged 88.
Survived and forever cherished by his sister Betty Wexler, his children Ron (Debbie), Beth and Del, his grandchildren Zach Morton, Vanessa Rose, Tammy Brant and Matt Brant (Kerri). He was Alter-Zayde to great-grandchildren Alex Evans (Bree), Mackenzie Evans-Brant, Andrew Brant, and his newly-arrived great-great-granddaughter Raina Evans. He also leaves behind his adored grandpuppy Molly.
Predeceased by Lois, his beloved wife of 52 years, his sister Sarah, parents Sam and Rose, and his grandpuppy Sasha.
Arnold spent his childhood and early adult life in Winnipeg’s North End. He trained in the Cadets as the Second World War came to a close. A good student, notable amongst his extracurricular activities were the acting chops he displayed in local theatrical productions – he was a crowd pleaser. Learning piano wasn’t in the family budget, so after landing his first full time job, he purchased his own piano (on payments) and signed up for lessons. His love of classical music lasted his lifetime; he ensured his children all had lessons, and he enjoyed playing piano right up to this year.
Arnold and Lois chose to raise their children in River Heights. With Lois an only child, and Arnold’s elder sisters having moved to the U.S., he became the extended family care giver – modelling after his beloved Auntie Jennie Nathanson (née Gorsky), a Second World War nurse who relocated to Winnipeg to care for Arnold’s mother in the 1940s. He treasured his long distance telephone relationships with each of his sisters into their 90s, and Arnold’s attention to and care of elder relatives, including Jennie herself well into her late 90s, continues to resonate with his children today as a firsthand example of how to respect family.
While Arnold was Dad to Ron and Beth, he was Del’s Pa. Their special bond grew ever stronger and more meaningful, and these last years she became his best friend. Arnold was fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments – ask anyone within earshot. He revelled in their adventures and achievements in school, sports, relationships, the arts and in the workplace; and if he wasn’t present, he thirsted for firsthand accounts of their activities. He and Lois embraced all that makes our City an amazing place to raise a family – from library visits to theatre, exploring beaches and parks, camping on summer vacations, museums, community centre events and extra-curricular sports and music. His face lit up at the sound or sight of his grandchildren, in a way that made you verklempt.
A hardworking and dedicated employee, the largest part of his distinguished business career until retirement was as General Manager at Imperial Agencies – a confectionary distributor. Trips to the candy showroom and the warehouse were highly prized by his children and their friends, and sparked many school fundraisers.
Arnold involved himself and his family in the Winnipeg community. His and Lois’ lifelong friendships had their origins in the 1960s among founders of Temple Shalom, where his roles included ritual committee chairman through the synagogue’s formative years, and he subsequently purchased and donated the storied Margolis Torah to its membership. Following retirement and a move downtown, Arnold and Lois enjoyed the connectivity of the walkway system, and were enthusiastic patrons of local theatre and festivals. Arnold started the Portage Place Residents Association, partnering with City Police and local business groups to improve living conditions in the downtown. He sat on the Winnipeg Public Library Board, and volunteered as a tour guide for the Winnipeg Art Gallery where he revelled as much in the visitors he engaged with each shift, as learning about the artwork. A longstanding force behind LWTB (lunch with the boys) club – he helped keep a disparate group of friends and extended family in touch. And after passing the torch, he looked forward to catching up at these “events” most recently together with his cousin Marsha. His easygoing manner and sense of humour meant Arnold was always popular amongst neighbours and staff at Place Promenade, The Boulton, Charleswood Adult Day Club and Lions Manor.
Again and again, we’re hearing that Arnold put the “gentle” in “gentleman.” His devoted daughter-in-law Debbie referred to him as her teddy bear. He always went out of his way to express his appreciation to family and care givers and medical professionals, and so while we want to thank all those who supported and cared for him since Lois passed in 2007, we know he’s already done that himself many times over.
Please honour Arnold by spending time with precious family; those so inclined may donate to a charity of your choice. He leaves us with the important reminder that a big life is not a requirement to leave a big legacy.
Private burial took place at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery and he was interred next to Lois, officiated by Rabbi Aníbal Mass with pall bearers Ari Marantz, Avrom Charach, Bruce Evans, Kevin O’Donovan, Mike Seifer and Ron Margolis. A celebration of Arnold’s life will be held Sunday, January 27, 2019, 2:00 p.m. at Rae & Jerry’s in Winnipeg, where we can share memories of his sweetness and love for family and friends. If you’d like to receive notification of the event nearer that time and have not yet been in contact with the family, please email Del at dmargolis6@shaw.ca.
Obituaries
EDITH LANDY
June 30, 1920 – July 2, 2025
After a long and fulfilling life, our Mother passed on July 2, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, she grew up as part of a large extended family.
Mother was predeceased by her parents, Joseph Mayer Freiden and Rivka (nee Fordman), our father, David Landy, and her sisters Syma Katz and Jennie Rich. Edith is survived by her five children and their families: Laurie Landy and Nora Spinks, Barbara and Paul Livingston, Bob and Rhonda Landy, Mark Landy and Jenifer, and Martin Landy, her grandchildren Saralyn, Adam, Alex, Joshua, Ethan, Caitlin, David, Alicia, Lily, and six great-grandchildren, her cousins Norma Chernick and Shlomo Mayman and her many friends and relatives.
Mom grew up as part of a large extended family in the North End of Winnipeg, guided by her father’s values of service, community and the importance of family. She entered the School of Nursing at the Winnipeg General Hospital, now the Health Sciences Centre. She progressed from general duty nurse to nursing supervisor and served as the Assistant Director of Nursing for 15 years until her retirement in 1983. Over the course of her five-decade nursing career, she raised five children, managed a household, cared for many extended family members and remained actively involved in the community.
Community was a foundation of Mom’s life. Mom was very proud of her volunteering at the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Fest and other community events. She and David were patrons of the arts, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Manitoba Opera. In 2024, she was recognized as the longest continuous subscriber to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
The North Centennial Seniors Association played an important role in our parents’ later years. She ran her kitchen crew, supervised Hot Dog Day and provided food for many bus trips. Mom’s legacy was the Grandma Grandpa Swim Club, which she established, raised funds for, and built into a strong organization.
After a long and remarkable life of service and giving care, Mom accepted the need to receive care. The Family would like to thank Melita and Nelissa for their care and dedication, as well as the staff of the Simkin Centre, especially on Weinberg 2.
We cannot put into words how much she will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Joseph Freiden Scholarship for Jewish Studies at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
A service was held July 4, 2025, at Chesed Shel Emes – Winnipeg.
Obituaries
SUSAN DIANA FRANKEL
In the kitchen above her to-do list, Susan Diana Frankel kept a comic strip of a mother bird encouraging her baby to take its first leap into flight. “Go for it!” reads the speech bubble above the mother bird. But a second bubble shows her thinking silently to herself: Just don’t go too far.
I’ve always thought that image perfectly captured our mom. She was our biggest cheerleader and greatest supporter – and out of sheer love, she wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible: Matthew and Elly, Robby and Rae, Jed and Eugenia, and our devoted dad, Harvey, her partner of 45 years. In addition to being a loving mother and spouse, she was a perfect grandmother – or “Boba” – to her three granddaughters: Romi, Esti, and Aria, whom she loved obsessively. Our mom passed away at home on June 4. She was our best friend, and to say we are devastated or that we will miss her greatly feels wholly inadequate.
Predeceased by her parents Max and Esther Weinstein and her older brother Joel (Cathie), she will forever be loved and remembered by her brothers Sidney (Grace) and Barry (Sharon), her sister Ronni (Michael), her confidante Edie (Marcel), as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends.
Susan was born the youngest of five children on February 8, 1958, in Winnipeg. The Weinstein family lived in Melville, Saskatchewan, until 1963 before settling in Winnipeg for good. She spent summers in Gimli and at BB Camp, attended both Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba (as well as spending a semester at the University of Miami while visiting her parents at their winter condo in Florida – Go Hurricanes!).
My mom married our dad, Harvey, in 1981. They were a shining example of a loving partnership – completely devoted to each other in sickness and in health. They raised us three boys to be close and family-oriented. It feels strange to reduce some of my mom’s favourite places and memories to a list, but that list would include: the family cottage in Gimli, traveling to Palm Springs, Florida, Toronto, Hawaii, Italy, and Las Vegas, shopping and dining with friends and family, playing Mahj, chatting about movies and shows, dragging my dad to social outings and making him change his outfit before they left the house, watching Winnipeg Jets games, and constantly rewatching videos of her granddaughters.
Our mom had a way of making people she’d just met feel like part of her inner circle. She was genuinely interested in what you were doing, how it was going, and how she could help. She asked questions (sometimes a few too many!) because she cared – never because she was nosy. She had a wonderful sense of humour and truly loved to laugh. When something was really funny, you’d sometimes get a snort and even a tear or two. She was simply the best.
Our family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received during this extremely difficult time. A special thank-you to the healthcare workers who gave our mom such a remarkable quality of life despite living with stage 4 cancer for more than seven years: Dr. Marshall Pitz, all the nurses and staff at CancerCare, her homecare worker Lisa, and our family’s incredible friend and caregiver, Gemma Marciano.
Obituaries
SIDNEY RITTER
August 30, 1936 – June 20, 2025
Surrounded by his loved ones, Sidney left this world peacefully on Friday, June 20, 2025.
He is survived by his children Michael (Flynn Gerb), Beth Goldberg (Bobby), Alan and Andrea, and his sister-in-law Elsa Swedko (the late Norman). His memory will live on in his grandchildren, Zachary Goldberg (Karlene), Jessica Goldberg (Rhys Sharkey) and Stefanie Steigerwald (Alex), Halley Ritter, Brianna and Madeline Ritter, Francie and Sari Goldenberg, and great-grandchildren Brooks Goldberg and Ava Steigerwald.
Sidney was born and grew up in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, where he forged many lifelong friendships. He moved to Winnipeg following his marriage to the love of his life, Hinda, of blessed memory. Together, they built a beautiful home for their family, filled with love and caring for their community. Sidney’s commitment to making his world a better place is evident in his extensive volunteer work with the Chai Folk Ensemble, his synagogue, Folklorama and the Folk Arts Council, and his exemplary 62 years of perfect attendance at the Rotary Club of Winnipeg.
Funeral services were held on June 23, 2025, at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park. Contributions in Sidney’s memory may be made to The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or to a charity of your choice.