Beloved daughter of Sam and Katie Claman of Saskatoon, the seventh of nine children, Bayla is survived by Laurie (Ali) Mainster, her husband of 68 years; sister Kayla Coodin; daughter Gail Mainster, son-in-law Harold Gutovich and grandson Jay Gutovich; son Samuel Mainster; son-in-law Viktor Lewin; granddaughter Brianne Lewin, partner Chris Schwab and great-grandson Abraham; grandson Eli Lewin; and numerous loving nieces, nephews and other extended family members and friends. Bayla was predeceased by her daughter, Cheryl Lewin, on January 19, 2010.
Bayla was born in Saskatoon on May 1, 1927. She was a graduate of Princess Alexandra School, Bedford Road Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan. She apprenticed as a laboratory technologist, worked in the labs at Misericordia and Grace Hospitals in Winnipeg, and was a longstanding volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross. She was engaged to Ali on May 14, 1948 and they married November 27, 1948.
Funeral Services were held graveside on Monday April 10 at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery, led by Rabbi Larry Lander and Cantor Tracy Kasner Greaves. Pallbearers were son-in-law Harold Gutovich; nephews Shalom Coodin, Sheppy Coodin, Chaim Raber and Marshall Braunstein; and great-nephew David Coodin; and honourary pallbearer son-in-law Viktor Lewin. Thank you to everyone at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre and especially to Norma (Leonora) Claudio, her personal companion for seven years. Donations to honour Bayla can be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and Jewish Child and Family Service.