Obituaries
CHERYL ANNE (LAVITT) LAZAR November 2, 1965 – June 30, 2020
After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Cheryl Anne Lazar, loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and aunt, passed away on June 30, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2008, Cheryl was told that she had two years left. Always a fighter, she managed to add an extra decade to her life, living a relatively full life until her last month.
Cheryl was born in Winnipeg on November 2, 1965 to Adam and Judy (Schaffer) Lavitt, the second of four daughters. Cheryl grew up in the Garden City area of Winnipeg, and attended school at Talmud Torah, Forest Park School, Jefferson Junior High School, and Garden City Collegiate.
After graduating high school, Cheryl entered the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After graduation she entered the work force as an auditor, spending most of her career with Arctic Cooperatives Ltd.. As an auditor with ACL, she got to travel to many far north communities, which appealed to her adventurous spirit. She came to know and appreciate the people and culture of the Inuit of the far north.
Cheryl had a free-spirited, outgoing personality, and made friends easily. While accompanying some friends to a party in 1988, she introduced herself to the party host, Michael Lazar. After “running in to” each other several times over the next few months, they began to date. On April 1, 1990, while seated on “The Climbing Tree” in Kildonan Park, Michael proposed to Cheryl, and they were married on August 4, 1991. In keeping with Cheryl’s thirst for adventure, Cheryl and Michael honeymooned by backpacking their way through France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Israel.
Family and friends were very important to Cheryl. She was a dedicated soccer mom (and hockey mom, basketball mom, and baseball mom) to her three children. She was a cheerleader for their exploits in the arts and theatre, and always ready to help “encourage” them to finish their homework. She nourished and relished in long-term friendships from her days in Garden City, with her “Commerce Girls”, her friends from the Atah young Jewish adults group, from the neighborhood on Embassy Lane and later on Driscoll Crescent, from Congregation Etz Chayim, and many other friends that she made along the way. She was always there to celebrate good times, and to comfort in hard times.
Cheryl was pre-deceased by her father, Adam Lavitt, her grandparents, Liselotte and Abraham Schaffer and Harry and Eda Lavitt, and her in-laws, Rhona and Ronald Lazar. She is survived by her husband, Michael Lazar, her three sons, Elliot, Gabriel and Levi Lazar, her sisters Helen Lavitt-Smith (Carey), Debby Lavitt, and Susan Boyd (Ryan), her nephews and nieces Shannon (Jeff), Jeremy, Benji, Breanne, Brooke, Rory, Ezra (Sonia), Yona, Galya, Gilon, Casey, Solly, Aaron, Rachel and Jack, and great-nephews Max and Noah.
Cheryl’s funeral was held at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park, officiated by Rabbi Kliel Rose and Cantor Tracy Kasner. Pallbearers were Bert Schaffer, Allan Schaffer, Ron Worb, Gary Lazar, Matthew Lazar, and Joel Kay.
Cheryl’s family would like to thank her oncologist, Dr. Valerie Gordon, and the doctors and nurses at the Health Science Centre. They would also like to thank the many family members and friends who have lent their support both during Cheryl’s illness and following her passing.
Obituaries
ESTHER MINUK Dec. 27, 1932 – April 3, 2026
Esther Bat Hershel Ve Devorah
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Esther Minuk, beloved matriarch of our family. She was predeceased by her bashert, her beloved husband, Julius; her parents, Doris and Harry Golub; and her sister, Evelyn (Herbie).
Esther was a loving and proud mother, Baba, and Great-Baba to her children Yale, Rhonda (Tom), Perry (Abby), Jody, and Marla (Franklin); her grandchildren Jordan (Amy), Daniel (Allie), Allie (Jordan), Hannah, and Lily; and her great-grandchildren Julian, Aidan, and Eddie.
Known to many as `Queen Esther’, she led with kindness and integrity, always seeing the good in others. Her home was open and welcoming, filled with warmth, laughter, and love. She was sharp, compassionate, and deeply devoted to her family. We are heartbroken and forever grateful for the love and legacy she leaves behind. She will be eternally missed by her family.
Memorial donations may be made to B’nai Brith of Canada Foundation, 416-633-6224, https://bit.ly/4bRsabI or Sunnybrook Foundation, 416-480-4483, www.sunnybrook.ca/foundation
Obituaries
MILTON FREEDMAN
It is with profound sadness and much love that I announce the passing of Milton Freedman on October 30th, 2025, three months after we celebrated his 100th birthday. Milton was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Peter, his older brother Sam, and his younger brother Sid, with whom he shared a very special relationship. He is survived by his wife Joanie, his sister Ruby Donner, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a great-great nephew.
Family and friends meant everything to Milton, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was gentle and kind, quiet and dignified, thoughtful and wise. He gave the best advice, but only if asked.
Milton and I liked to travel, and for many years spent the winter in Palm Springs. We also travelled to Europe and England, and felt most at home in London. We reminisced endlessly about the river cruises we went on, and the amazing places we had the opportunity to visit, whether it was having dinner at a restaurant overlooking the North Sea, or attending a private concert at a palace in Vienna, or tasting Black Forest cake especially prepared for us, while we were in Germany’s Black Forest region. It all was stunning, magical, delicious. But it was the people we met along the way, who made everything even more special, and we never forgot them.
Milton was an avid reader, inhaling newspapers, magazines, and books as if they were oxygen. Remarkably, he remembered much of what he read, and it wasn’t unusual for him to quote a passage from a book that he had read years earlier, if it was relevant to a conversation. It was not to show off…that wasn’t who he was.
Milton was a runner, and for years ran ten miles, three times a week. On the days he didn’t run, he walked outdoors for two and a half hours. Eventually, he gave up running, preferring to walk seven days a week no matter the season, no matter the weather. This continued until he was well into his 80’s. And even in his 90’s Milton remained determined to walk, at first using one cane, then two, then a walker. When he was asked, how he did it, Milton simply said, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” On occasion he might add, “And eventually you’ll get to where you’re going.”
Sage advice.
Milton is deeply missed, and will forever be remembered.
Obituaries
MARLI REBECCA SILVERMAN
Marli Rebecca Silverman passed away on March 11th at the age of 43 from end-stage renal disease. She lived her life with meaning, courage, and resilience, and touched everyone who knew her with her strength, warmth, and spirit.
She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Rylee, who was the light of her life; her father, Bruce; her brother, Matthew; Rylee’s father, Drake; and many family members and dear friends who will carry her memory forward with love.
Marli will be deeply missed and forever remembered for the impact she made on those around her.
May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in Marli’s memory may be made to Breakthrough T1D (breakthrought1d.ca).