Obituaries
BERNICE ETHEL MARMEL O.M. June 13, 1927- April 28, 2021
Bernice Marmel was born in Arran, Saskatchewan as Ethel Bernice Macklin. After moving to Winnipeg, she resided at the Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage and then went on as a teenager to live with her aunt and uncle Fred and Sarah (Hechter) Sures in River Heights.
She attended Robert H. Smith Elementary School before graduating from Kelvin High School. After marrying Max Marmel she moved to West Kildonan where she lived most of her life. Bernice obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Manitoba and much later in life her Masters Degree in Health Education.
Bernice had a lifetime of extraordinary service to others, especially to those whose poverty makes them more vulnerable. As a senior citizen, she was concerned naturally for other older Manitobans, but also worked for adolescent parents and school-aged children.
Throughout her life, Bernice was sometimes employed by organizations and sometimes worked as a volunteer. In fact, Bernice’s loyalty to the people whose concerns were at the heart of her work often caused her paid work to segué into volunteer work whenever funding ran out. She cared too much about the people and issues they faced to put projects aside.
Bernice believed in the possibility of working with people to enable them both to do what was needed and to grow. This was her method of working. When setting up a fitness program at a north end church, she taught the people how to apply for government funding. In a project she initiated, while with the Nor’West Health Cooperative, she enabled children who lived in a social housing project to speak out about their own health needs. This project was recognized with the Canadian Healthy Communities Project Certificate of Distinction.
Bernice served on countless volunteer boards and committees. Some of the groups that have benefited from Bernice’s work include the Manitoba Council on Aging; the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg; Mount Carmel Clinic; The Urban Idea Centre; the North End Women’s Resource Centre; the Food Network; ALCOA; and the Winnipeg Public Library Board.
Bernice was often ahead of current thinking, for example on sexuality among older people. A paper she wrote advocated for older people to continue to be regarded as sexual beings long before such thinking was prominent. Her work also addressed the problem of social isolation among seniors, establishing a Friendly Visitors program for the Age and Opportunity Inc., and a phone link for seniors from Deer Lodge Hospital. She was instrumental in the establishment of both Macbeth House and Bleak House senior centres in Winnipeg’s North End.
Bernice was long concerned about the pressing need for affordable housing, especially, but not solely for seniors. Among other groups, Bernice was part of the housing committee on the Council on Aging and also sat as part of the coalition on housing called together by the provincial government.
Bernice won many certificates of recognition and awards for her work, including ones from the Lord Selkirk West Kildonan Community, also Winnipeg’s KLINIC’s suicide prevention program, SPEAK. In 2002, she was given the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. In 2016, she received the Murray and Muriel Smith Award, the highest award by the Manitoba Council on Aging. Finally Bernice was awarded the Order of Manitoba in 2018, the highest honour amongst all others conferred by the Manitoba Crown. This award was for excellence and achievement in any field that benefits the well being of Manitoba and its residents.
Bernice travelled extensively for pleasure, usually on stand-by, all over the world. England, Columbia, and Tunisia were some of her favorites.
In addition to her extensive community work, Bernice was a devoted mother, sister and Baba. She acted as a strong role model for her family in her dedication to her community and relentless support for vulnerable individuals. Her calm and cheerful demeanour stuck with her over the last few years of her life, even when her ability to communicate became limited. You could always count on her to be smiling.
Bernice was predeceased by her parents, Sam Machlin and Rose Hechter-Machlin, and her brothers, Gerry, Joseph and Dr. Allan Macklin.
She will be fondly remembered by her daughter Rosalind, son Lawrence (Tam), grandson Shane Marmel and granddaughter Dr. Allison Marmel (Dr. Yale Michaels).
Funeral service and burial took place at the Rosh Pina Cemetery on April 30, 2021, officiated by Rabbi Kliel Rose.
Pallbearers were: Dr. Billy Kettner, Dr. Joel Kettner, Bruce Kettner, Brian Scharfstein, John Michaels, and Jamie Michaels.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Max Marmel and Bernice Macklin-Marmel Fund for the Gray Academy at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 204-477-7520.
Obituaries
RITA TRITT
March 29, 1925 – February 22, 2025
Just a month before her 100th birthday, Rita passed away peacefully with family by her side. She was the last of her generation of the large Weidman family, one of the earliest Jewish families in Winnipeg. Growing up in Winnipeg, she attended the University of Manitoba and the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from there. Rita was a very talented artist; she attended the Forum Art Institute for many, many years where she enjoyed the mentorship and camaraderie of fellow artists. She was proud of having sold several hundred pieces of her work over her time there.
Rita was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joe Tritt, in 1986. She is survived by her loving family, her children: Jacki and Sheldon Koven, Steven Tritt and Sharon Goszer Tritt; grandchildren: Lesley Koven and Eric Thomas, Mara Koven-Lapointe and Ryan Lapointe, Joseph Tritt and Shaun Castor; great-grandchildren: Ayla and Eli Thomas, and Kate Lapointe.
Funeral services were held on February 24, 2025. Rita’s family is grateful for the warm and attentive care of Sherryl and Sergio and all the staff on Weinberg 1 at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre where Rita lived for the last 3 years. If friends wish, a donation in Rita’s memory can be made to the Simkin Centre or the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
ISABELLE BOOK
It is with sadness and gratitude for a life well lived, that we announce the passing of our family matriarch Isabelle Book. Izzy was born on November 21, 1925, and passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
She was predeceased by her parents Clara and Jacob Brownstein, her brother Walter, her sister Minnie Goldman, her beloved husband Arthur, her brother-in-law Noel and a fabulous group of women who shared a friendship that lasted decades.
She is survived by her 4 children, Warren and Faye Book, Marilyn and David Pressman, Jacqueline and Jory Stillwater and David and Elaine Book. She was a very proud Baba to Hilary Book, Deborah Book and Mike James, Laurie and Ginny Stillwater, Kayleigh and Barrett Ruggles, Adam Book and Gabe Bloomfield-Book and Seth Book and Amy Shore. She so enjoyed seeing pictures and videos of her great-grandchildren Hugo, Marcus, Reese, Maverick, Richie and Sullivan. She will also be greatly missed by her sister -in- law and dear friend Shirley Book.
Izzy had a great sense of humour and was often unable to get to the punchline of a joke because she was laughing so hard. She could be stubborn and strong minded. She would dig in her heels if she felt she was being pushed to make a decision she wasn’t ready to make. Izzy enjoyed time with family and friends but was also very comfortable with her own company.
Izzy knew what it meant to be a friend. She was a kind compassionate woman who cherished the people in her life and was always our biggest fan. Our mom was a quality human being who never forgot a birthday or anniversary. Izzy lived by the Golden Rule. She lived a long, healthy life but remained seriously young at heart.
There are memories to last a lifetime, ones that we will keep close as we honour her memory. We were blessed to have her for as long as we did, strong, loving and sharp until almost the end. She modeled what it meant to live a good life. She also did it on her terms.
The funeral took place on Sunday, February 9 at the B’nai Abraham Cemetery with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. Pallbearers were her grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at the Rosewood (Maple House) where she lived. She bonded with many of the wonderful people who cared and supported her there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
Naomi Lander Rosenthal February 14, 1940 – February 12, 2025
Naomi Lander Rosenthal was born in Winnipeg and passed away two days shy of her 85th birthday. She was the daughter of Drs. Jacob Joseph (Jack) Lander, a respected and beloved family practitioner in Winnipeg, and Clara (Shnay) Lander, a literary scholar and past President of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Board of Governors.
Naomi was a classically trained pianist and performed both formally and informally in many venues. She was always asked to play at any party where there was a piano. Her favorite classical piece was Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which readers can listen to and enjoy here. Naomi was heavily influenced by the version played by the pianist Glenn Gould, which approximates how Naomi approached it. Naomi had a great appreciation for complexity in musical style and composition. Her piano repertoire extended from Bach and Brahms to Elton John and Billy Joel.
Naomi lived in Toronto from 1968-1988 and then moved back to Winnipeg in 1989 to help care for her father when he became ill. She worked in senior executive assistant roles from the 1970s through the early 1990s in insurance, government and the non-profit sectors before retiring at age 65. Her work ethic, perfectionism and sense of mission throughout her career made Naomi a beloved team member, who also fostered life-long friendships with her supervisors and even their families.
In addition to music, Naomi had many interests, including gourmet cooking, film, science fiction and fantasy, and politics. Naomi could engage anyone in any number of subjects and was particularly interested in health and medicine. Naomi will now go on to teach medical students through the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ body donation program.
Naomi is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Ahava Rosenthal and Michael Shore, of Boston, MA; M. Sara Rosenthal and Kenneth Ain of Lexington, Kentucky; her grandchildren, Kayla Shore and Jacob Shore; her step-grandchildren, Maxwell Ain and Jacob Ain; her sisters, Myra Lander of San Mateo, California, and Judith Lander of Toronto; nephews Kalan Vuksanovich and Stephen Israels and many extended family members from the Lander families, Shnay families, and Rothberg families.
The family wishes to thank Richard (Dick) and Joanne Rothberg; Naomi’s wonderful caregivers at The Key, homecare assistance in Winnipeg, including Brian Boxall and Althea King; the Simkin Centre; and Elena Episcope for helping to make Naomi’s final years so much more comfortable.
A remembrance of Naomi will be held on Thursday evening, February 20th at 7 pm at 202 Lamont Blvd in Winnipeg. Donations in Naomi’s memory may be made to CancerCareManitoba or to the organization of your choice.
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