Obituaries
CHANA KEMPNER STERN (Z’L) Feb 15, 1928 – Jun 16, 2022
It brings great sadness to announce the passing of Chana Kempner Stern (Z’L) who was the beloved wife of Max Stern who pre-deceased her. She leaves to mourn her step-son, David Stern, as well as many cousins and friends in Canada, Israel and US. Chana died in Winnipeg on June 16, 2022, and was buried in Israel on June 29, 2022.
She was 94 years old. There will be a celebration of her life event to be held in her honour, with her step-son, David, along with relatives and friends, in Winnipeg next month.
The following obituary was written by Esi and Amy Zion, cousins of Chana’s, from Edmonton, AB:
Chana Kempner Stern nee Shapiro was my grandmother’s cousin and was like an aunt to my mother and a great-aunt to me. Chana and my grandmother grew up together in Suchedniow, Poland; she went to Beit Yakov, a school for girls where she learned to read and write in Yiddish as well as Polish school. Chana was the eldest of three children in her family: Asher and Hershel were named after their zaidas. At age 12, she went to work in Factory Camp B, then A, in the nearby Skarzysko-Kamienna concentration camp on the false promise that it would save the rest of her family. On our last visit together, I recorded her story. She said that in fact, her family was rounded up on Yom Kippur while she was working in the camp, and they were taken to Treblinka. She was spared because she was working and she never saw them again. My grandmother, and my grandmother’s brother, and another cousin, Rochshe, were her only surviving relatives. After liberation, she recalled the cold reception from her fellow Poles who were surprised to see that a Jew had survived and would not let survivors enter the emptied Jewish homes.
Recovering from a lung problem after the war, she was found in a German sanitarium by shlichim who were looking for orphaned survivors to populate kibbutzim. Once she recovered, they went through the Alps into Italy with fake passports bound for Israel. Her boat reached the port of Haifa, but was re-routed by the British to Cyprus. Chana was almost 17 at the time. After about nine months in Cyprus, once the State was declared in ’48, Chana was sent back to the port of Haifa where she was ordered into a tank with the barrel pointed at the sky. They told her to shoot at any enemy airplanes. Thankfully, she recalled, she never had to pull the trigger. In Israel, she learned Hebrew, she met her first husband, her great love, Judah (Yehudah). For many years they lived in Petach Tikvah, where Chana worked as a telephone operator. Chana found a new life in Israel and a new family in Judah.
Judah passed away decades later, but Chana never stopped speaking about what a good and kind person he was. Eventually she got remarried to a Canadian, Max Stern, and relocated to Winnipeg. In Winnipeg she had a wonderful life with Max, found friendship in the large Jewish community where she could speak Yiddish fluently while learning English day by day. They were avid card players. Chana excelled in bridge and enjoyed trips to the casino until the end of her life. She and Max welcomed people into their home like family – she enjoyed constantly entertaining, cooking traditional Jewish food for her guests, and recounting funny stories and memories.
In 2005, Chana was widowed a second time. She continued to have a zest for life in spite of all that she went through. Chana was a loyal and committed friend, and a joyful presence in everyone’s life. A complaint was never uttered from her lips; she always focused on gratitude for the simple pleasures and privileges in life. During Covid, she would list the items in her house that she was thankful for: her TV, her phone, having heat, and enough to eat: “What more could I ask for?” Always on the phone with friends or family, she remained a telephone operator of a different sort, until her last day. Chana was not only our family – she was a dear friend and advisor to my mother and me. She was always interested in our lives, always listened, asked questions, and wanted to know everything. We loved calling her and speaking to her, there were always laughs to be had, and Chana always laughed from the belly.
I remember begging her to get a Covid vaccination, and she only relented when she found out she would otherwise be barred from the casino and the bridge club at Gwen Secter. She was practical to the enth degree. She was the last Holocaust survivor in our family, and the last first-hand witness of the atrocities that took most of our relatives. She was a model in how she not only survived, but lived and flourished in spite of everything. But as she told me when she spoke about the war, regardless of the smile on her face, such pain as losing her family all at once never leaves you, nor the guilt that went with it. “Thank G-d I’m alive – or do I? That is a big question, and some questions cannot be answered.”
We cannot believe she is gone. We will miss our Chana’le dearly. We take solace knowing that her final wish was fulfilled: to be buried beside Judah in the land of Israel that took her in when she had no one.
Obituaries
EARL (ARIE) PERLMUTTER
We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and cousin Arie Perlmutter at the age of 77. Arie died peacefully after a brief but difficult struggle with cancer on April 12, 2025.
He was predeceased by his parents, Hymie and Thelma and by his beloved sister Sheila.
Arie developed and maintained many close friends throughout his life. He attended St. John’s High in the 60s and kept in touch with many of his classmates. He began his working life as a delivery driver for City Bread. This was followed by a career of over 20 years at Advance Electronics, where he was a well-respected and expert sales associate. He hung out at North End Sals, for virtually his entire life, discussing (arguing? kibitzing?) with many people too numerous to name, the issues of the day but especially about sports, and most especially about baseball.
In his retired life, he was a member of Larters Golf Club, golfing with much enthusiasm and passion, if not prowess. Arie donated to and volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society for many years.
His family and friends would like to thank the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital whose compassionate and caring attention to Arie in his final days was truly a great comfort to him.
In keeping with Arie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral will be held.
Obituaries
IRENE MARANTZ (nee KATZ) November 28-1930 – March 30, 2025
Our mother, Irene , passed peacefully in her own home at the age of 94. Irene was predeceased by: her parents, Abe and Sally Katz , her husband; Cyril Marantz, sister Clarice Rosenbloom, brother Max Katz, sister Bernice Grant, her sons-in-law Mike Langer and Bruce Cook
Irene is survived by her children: Jeff Marantz and Barb, Debra Marantz, Susan Marantz, Ellen Marantz, and brother Harvey Katz; her grandchildren, Sarah Marantz Lindenberg and Ira, David Marantz and Olivia; her great-grandchildren Rose, Izabella and Max; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Our mother was born in Fort Francis, Ontario. After meeting and marrying my father Cyril she moved to Winnipeg. Mom loved that she moved to Winnipeg and had this large Jewish community for which she became an integral part of and it became a major part of her life.
Once her youngest daughter Ellen was in school, she went to work at the family business : Marantz and son, as a bookkeeper, and worked there until her early 70s.
Irene love to go to synagogue and be a part of Rosh Pina congregation. She was also a member of the sisterhood and was very involved in the activities in and around the synagogue. She was so grateful to learn Hebrew and to be able to participate in the Shabbat and other holiday services.
She spent every summer since the birth of her eldest son Jeff, at Winnipeg Beach.
She loved the beach riding her bike, going for long walks, meeting with her beach friends, playing cards and sharing good meals.
Irene was a kind soul.
She never had a negative word to say about anybody and nobody ever had anything but a kind word to say about her.
Her family was the light of her life. She encouraged her children to pursue their dreams and be the best they could be.
She was a loving and caring grandmother to her grandchildren, and her home was always opened to them, her friends, her children’s friends and even to strangers.
Funeral was held on April 2
Pall bearers were : David Marantz, Ira Lindenberg, Allan Marantz, Ari Marantz, Stephen Rosenbloom, Hartley Katz. Honorary pall bearer: Josh Marantz
Obituaries
SYLVIA BASS NOVEMBER 19, 1924 – MARCH 14, 2025
On March 14,2025, after a very long life and a brief illness Sylvia Bass (nee Breitman) passed away peacefully. She is survived by son Ken, daughter Robyn Lerner (Neal) and grandchildren Jordyn (Tina), Shea (Anna) and Blake (Jacqueline). She is predeceased by her husband Harold and her four siblings (Alvin, Joseph, Belle and Shirley).
Sylvia was born on November 19, 1924, and had her North End Winnipeg childhood shaped by the rigours of the Great Depression. When the warehouse that employed her father went out of business in 1931 her mother, a seamstress, regularly worked late into the night to keep the family from destitution.
In 1942 Sylvia graduated from Isaac Newton High School with an A average and entered the world of work as a receptionist and secretary. In the pre- Dictaphone era this was a challenging vocation, requiring mastery of the arcane language of Gregg and Pitman shorthand. Her employers included Dr. Art Lerner and a forerunner agency of Jewish Child and Family Services.
In 1948 Sylvia met her life partner Harold Bass, an auto mechanic and auto body shop proprietor. After they married, at the fashionable Marlborough Hotel, she devoted herself to providing a home for her husband and children -Ken, born in 1950 and Robyn, in 1960. Her responsibilities increased in the Fall of 1966 when Harold decided on a radical career change, from the auto trades to government employment as a welfare worker.This meant attending an eleven month college course, available only in Brandon.
Sylvia was always sociable, enjoying the company of her Garden City neighbours, her many friends and her large extended family. For many years she was active in Pioneer Women (Na’amat), and a memorable 1971 trip to Israel strengthened her connection with the homeland. She and Harold also travelled to Chicago and Florida, as well as several trips to Las Vegas, where she indulged the Breitman family taste for gambling.
In their later years Sylvia and Harold focused their attention on their grandchildren, letting everyone know of their many and various accomplishments. Unfortunately, in 2009 Harold suffered serious health problems and was no longer able to live at home. He died the next year. Because her natural sociability made living alone out of the question Sylvia moved to the Portsmouth Retirement Residence, where she was a vital part of the community for the next sixteen years.
The funeral took place at the Chesed Shel Emes on Sunday, March 16 with interment at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery, Rabbi Anibal Mass presiding. Pallbearers were Jordyn Lerner, Shea Lerner, Blake Lerner, Harrison Katz, Ramy Penner and Benji Winestock. Neal Lerner, David Davis and Ken Bass were honorary pallbearers. Our thanks to the caring staff at the Portsmouth, JTRC Care Services and the Grace Hospital. Special thanks to Dr. Terry Babick, who cared for Sylvia for many years and helped her to reach 100.
Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to do so to an Israeli – linked charity of their choice.
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