Obituaries
CECILE MEYROWITZ (MEYERS)
Cecile Meyrowitz (Meyers), aged 92, passed away peacefully with her son and daughter-in-law at her side on July 17, 2017 at Seven Oaks Hospital.
Cecile will lovingly be remembered by her children, David (Irene), Arlene (Len), grandchildren Elana (Jon), Jesse, Ryan and Brett , her sister Bernice Burko and her sister-in-law, Cookie Rutman as well as nieces & nephews. Her great grand-daughter Kaia was the joy of her life.
She was predeceased by her mother and father, Esther and Sam Rutman, husband Sam and her brother Al Rutman; Her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harry and Babe Meyers; Ida & Harvey Smordin and her brother-in-law, Chilo Burko.
Cecile was born on December 20, 1924. She entered Strathcona School at the age of five for grades one to six. She then transferred to William Whyte School for grade seven and Machray School for grades eight and nine. She went to St. John’s High School for ten and eleven and finally one year at Dominion Business College. During her teens, she was a member of Betar and the Hadassah Juniorettes. She also attended the Winnipeg School of Art. While studying at Dominion Business College, she entered a Canada-wide Underwood Artistic Typewriting contest and won 4th Prize. During her mid-life years, she was active in ORT and became a life member. She met her husband, Sam, in 1946 and they were married on October 19, 1947. She worked in the office of Gunn Garment until 1951 and then joined Investors Syndicate in 1963. She retired from there after 20 years of employment in 1983 from Investors. Cecile and Sam were members of the American Contract Bridge League and shared the excitement of Bridge competitions at the Tuxedo Bridge Studio as well as tournaments in both Canada and the U.S. They were both Silver Life Masters. They enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas and Israel. They wintered in Florida for 20 years and enjoyed many Caribbean bridge-playing cruises.
Her funeral service and burial took place on July 20, 2017. The funeral service was officiated by Rabbi Anibal Mass. We greatly appreciated his kindness and sympathies. We enjoyed and appreciated the kind words and beautiful memories, expressed by Cecile’s nephew, Lyle Smordin as well as the memories expressed by Irene Boxer-Meyrowitz, Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz, Elana Waldman and Brett Gladstone.
We would also like to thank Estelle Raber for helping us organize the funeral.
We are grateful to the pallbearers, including Avi Waldman, Matthew Duboff, Brett Gladstone, Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz, Jon Waldman and Peter Mendelson.
The family would like to thank the staff of Blossoms Senior Care, the staff of Seven Oaks Hospital Emergency and the ward staff on the 5th floor and 3rd floor for their wonderful care and consideration over the years. We would like to extend our gratitude to Dr. Nolan Finlayson and Dr. M.B. MacMillan.
We are also grateful for the love and support extended by Cecile’s sister, Bernice as well as Bernice’s children.
We would like to thank Nate Dana, our honorary pallbearer, for his consideration and assistance to our family over the years.
Donations to the memory of our loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Cecile, could be directed to the Jewish National Fund of Canada, ORT Toronto, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or the Friends of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
Obituaries
JEROME AVERY
April 2, 1945 – September 11, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jerome Avery, who passed away with his family by his side on September 11, 2025, at the age of 80.
Jerome was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Allan and Diane Avery. He was married to the love of his life, Karen, for 46 years, until her passing. Jerome was blessed to find love and companionship again with Sergia, who he cared deeply for.
Jerome treasured being “Zaida” to his grandchildren, Danica, Alexis, and Nathan. Jerome is survived by his loving children, Robyn (Don) and Tammy (Chris); his grandchildren Danica (Benny), Alexis (Brett), and Nathan; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Karen, his parents Allan and Diane Avery, and his in-laws Nathan and Rose Sarbit.
His smile lit up a room bringing joy and comfort to all who knew him.
Obituaries
RITA SHAPERA (née SILVERMAN)
March 22, 1929 – September 2, 2025
It is with deep sadness that the family of Rita Shapera announces her passing on September 2, 2025, at the age of 96.
Born in Winnipeg to Isadore and Dolly Silverman, Rita grew up in the North End during the Depression yet always remembered her childhood as joyful and full of warmth. A striking beauty, her brother Gerry joked that he was bribed with chocolate by hopeful suitors! It was Dr. Monty Shapera, however, who won her heart, and they married in 1949.
Together, Rita and Monty moved to Flin Flon to establish his dental practice. What was meant to be a short stay blossomed into a decade filled with community, friendship, and the arrival of their three children. Returning to Winnipeg, Rita poured her boundless creativity and impeccable eye for design into building their River Heights home. A gifted cook, baker, and hostess, she made her home a gathering place brimming with love, laughter, and warmth.
Rita adored the famously purple family cottage at Winnipeg Beach, where her love of gardening and swimming took root. She relished travel – especially to Maui – along with bridge games with her circle of friends, evenings at the symphony, and years of community service with Hadassah, Kiwanis, and the Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood.
When Monty passed away in 1990, Rita embraced her role as a devoted grandmother and found joy in winters spent in Palm Springs. In 1996, she was blessed to find love again with Ted Jacob. Their marriage was filled with laughter, affection, and a partnership reminiscent of Burns and Allen. She cherished her bond with Teddy’s children, and though his passing in 2003 was another heartbreak, Rita described their time together as “perfect.”
Rita’s warmth, empathy, and radiant spirit made her a friend to all – whether across a bridge table, in her volunteer work, or even in a casual conversation while waiting in line. She embodied generosity and unconditional love, and as she often said, “I’ve had an amazing life.”
Rita is survived by her children, Nolan (Lori), Caryn Martin (Dr. Paul Martin), and Blair (Lois Vincent); her grandchildren, Tali, Ilyssa, Cale (Hannah), Ilana (Igal), Jordan, Mika (Nate), Shaan, and Eli; and her great-grandchildren, Lev, Theo, Shai, Llewyn, and Jaxx. She is also lovingly remembered by her brother Dr. Gerald (Pauline) Silverman. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Sheila (Al Linder), and her husbands, Dr. Monty Shapera and Ted Jacob.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the dedicated care providers at Shaftesbury Park, the Simkin Centre, St. Boniface Hospital, and especially to Paulina Trinidad for her compassionate care.
Rita’s legacy is one of love, resilience, and joy. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family and all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Donations in Rita’s memory can be made to Winnipeg Children’s Hospital or Diabetes Canada.
Obituaries
DR. DAVID NORMAN MANUSOW
David passed away, surrounded by his children and partner, on Sunday, September 14, 2025, after a battle with CNS lymphoma, at age 74.
Left to mourn are his children, Josh (Kristen) and Amy (Jamie), his grandchildren, Miles, Archie, and Stella, sister Merle (Phil), his partner Rosa and her children, Karen (Joe) and Danielle (Mike). He was predeceased by his wife Nancy who died in 2003.
David grew up in the North End of Winnipeg and was proud of his roots. He spent his childhood hanging out at Winnipeg Beach, enjoying a busy social life at the YMHA downtown, and studying. He went to medical school at the University of Manitoba and completed a residency in ophthalmology there followed by further training in glaucoma surgery in New York City at Mount Sinai Hospital and in Cambridge, England. He was the first and only ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma to practice in Manitoba and in the 1980s looked after a patient population alone that is today shared by eight doctors. He was a partner at the Manitoba Clinic, a faculty member at the University of Manitoba and over his long career saved the vision and looked after thousands of patients. He was known as a master diagnostician and meticulous clinician and surgeon.
David was married to Nancy Manusow for 28 years until her death from cancer. They had a wonderful partnership, travelled the world together before settling down in Winnipeg with brief stops to live in New York, England (twice), and Pittsburgh, and raised two children together. In his later years he enjoyed travelling and spending time with Rosa, his partner of 20 years, and her family. He was particularly proud of spearheading a scholarship at his alma mater, St. John’s High School, along with some of his classmates to honour a very close friend who drowned while they were in medical school (the Aron Katz Memorial Scholarship).
The family would like to thank all of his physicians, nurses, and the staff at CancerCare, Victoria Hospital, and Grace Hospice and in particular Dr. J. Webb and Dr. L. Minuk.
His funeral took place at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Tuesday, September 26, 2025. Pallbearers were Manual Glimcher, Danielle Miller, Mike Miller, Karen Appel, Phil Sheegl, Sean Udow, Hannon Bell, Zach Stein, Stuart Niznick, and Benji Goldenberg.
David will be deeply missed. Donations in his name can be made to Breakthrough T1D (JDRF).