Obituaries
DR. MORRIS E. BURKE
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Morris Edwin Burke M.D. husband, father and grandfather, on February 17, 2018 at the Vancouver General Hospital.
In his 90th year, he passed peacefully after a short illness, in the arms of his loving family. He is buried at the Beth Israel Cemetery in Vancouver, BC.
A much loved and respected physician, artist, teacher, friend and colleague, Morris, or ‘Maishe’ as he was known to his family and friends, was born in Winnipeg Manitoba on November 14, 1927 to Max and Sarah Burke, the youngest of three sons.
He was predeceased by his parents, and brothers Matt and Benge. He is survived by his wife Eleanor, children David, (Sharlynne), Joel, Baillie and Jeff, grandchildren Connor, Sarah, Ava and Kiera, brothers-in-law Morley Shatsky, (Charlene) and Meyer Thompson, sisters-in-law Belle Burke (Toronto) and Lillian Burke (Winnipeg), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Morris attended St. John’s Tech High School and was Valedictorian in his last year. He applied and was accepted to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba despite a strict quota at the time for Jewish students. He was awarded the Lt. Frank Rich Memorial Scholarship after his first year of internship and in 1951 he graduated Medicine as one of the youngest in a large class of graduates. Morris then married his long time love Eleanor Shatsky, whom he had met at the age of 16. He took the position as Doctor in the town of Erikson MB, followed by a move to Norway House at the top of Lake Winnipeg, working for the, Department of Indian Affairs. There, he wrote a dictionary in the Cree language with the help of the Cree First Nation locals to better communicate their illnesses and document their medical histories. Morris acted as Surgeon, Obstetrician and Dentist, and was greatly respected for his compassion and tireless care as he flew to nursing stations at Cross Lake and Island Lake. After, the couple moved to Wappella, SK where they lived for the next three years and then back to Winnipeg to rejoin their extended families and welcome their sons David, Joel and daughter Baillie.
Morris opened his office in East Kildonan on Watt Street where he practiced for 40 years, meanwhile becoming Medical Director of Tuxedo Villa and Beacon Hill Nursing Homes. Among his many accomplishments, he was commended by the Mayo Clinic for his diagnostic abilities and was acknowledged by his peers for using the practice of hypnosis to help his patients overcome disabilities. He was Secretary for the Board of the Canadian Hypnosis Society for several years.
Eventually he closed his office and joined the Eaton Place Medical Centre until his retirement in 2015. To quote his patients who often brought him second and third generations, Morris was a ‘gentle, patient, articulate, empathetic and thorough doctor’. He was loved by everyone who knew him and for whom he always had a kind word.
After being in practice for 64 years, Morris and Eleanor moved to Vancouver BC to join their children and grandchildren. They would have celebrated their 67th Anniversary July 1, 2018. An epitaph Morris wrote on his parent’s headstone is equally fitting to his own; ’Golden Hearts & Hands at Rest.’ We will love and miss him forever.
A donation in Morris’ name to Mazon Canada (1.416.783.7554) or the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
Obituaries
BARBARA ELAINE WINESTOCK
Barbara Elaine Winestock, maiden name Block, was born on the 27th of May 1951 to parents, Hymie and Gertie Block. She grew up in Hodgson, Manitoba and then Winnipeg’s north end with her parents and younger sister Ava. In short, Barbara was chaos.
In 1980, she married Larry Winestock, who she had met only months prior. When they remembered their plane tickets, the two traveled around the world and when they remembered their luggage, they did so with clothing. They were chronically late, habitually unprepared and perpetually entertaining. Their love was sincere and their fights were like cats and dogs with rabies. Their family would be completed after years of trying to adopt, when they got the “once in a lifetime” opportunity twice, adopting Gabriel in 1989 and Bailey in 1992.
Barbara was so many things to so many people. She did so much throughout her life. She sold advertising spots for CKRC, she taught at the Rady Centre, she sewed, she gardened, she painted and so much more. She was loud, outgoing and made friends everywhere she went.
In 2019 she was diagnosed with brain cancer and given a prognosis of 11 months. This impending date was however not enough to overwhelm her aforementioned chronic lateness. She wouldn’t make this appointment for another six years. She beat it for so long.
Barbara passed away on September 21, 2025. Due to the impending holidays the funeral was held on the 22nd of September at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We miss you Bobs.
Obituaries
KEVIN ROSEN
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kevin Rosen, aged 54, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, following a determined and courageous battle with ALS. Kevin was the beloved son of Harvey Rosen (z”l) and Judy Goodman, loving husband of Judi Price-Rosen, devoted father of Emery, cherished brother of Pam, and special brother-in-law of Barbi and Jared Green. He was also the proud uncle of Stella, Jakob, Miranda and Micah, a treasured cousin, and a loyal friend to so many.
Kevin was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Garden City where he attended Talmud Torah, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1996 with an Honours degree in Commerce and soon after, headed to Toronto. It was there that he met the love of his life, Judi, and they married in 2000. Soon after their wedding, the newlyweds returned to Winnipeg to start their new life together. For 25 years, their love for each other remained unwavering and strong. Kevin’s calm demeanor and his remarkable ability to find humour in any situation helped them weather life’s challenges together.
In 2006, Judi and Kevin became a family with the birth of their son, Emery. Kevin’s greatest joy was being a dad and fatherhood came naturally to him. He parented with patience, empathy and gentle guidance. Whether it was watching cartoons and funny TikTok clips together, or a surprise trip to Toronto to take in a Blue Jays game, Kevin always made “father-son time” a priority.
Kevin had a long and successful career in marketing and communications that began in Toronto, and continued in Winnipeg at Gateway Publishing. Most of his employment experience was in higher education. He was hired as Marketing Manager at Red River College in 2004, and in 2012, reached the pinnacle of his career as Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Winnipeg. Kevin led with integrity and humility and genuinely cared about the people he supervised. He was respected and well-liked by his colleagues and many remained in close touch after his early retirement.
Kevin was also an avid runner who completed seven full marathons. For years, he had trained his body and mind to push through that last gruelling mile with tenacity and intense focus. Like his favorite movie hero Rocky Balboa, Kevin was built for an epic fight. Little did he know that in his case, the stakes would be so much higher. The fight of Kevin’s life – and for his life – began with a diagnosis of ALS just months before he turned 50.
ALS may have changed his life, but Kevin never let it define him. He remained fiercely independent, continued to nurture relationships with family and friends, and welcomed visitors with a playful smile, a joke, and incredible patience. Even after he lost the ability to speak, Kevin’s quirky sense of humor remained, shining through via text, his computerized surrogate voice, and that signature glint in his eyes.
He was kindness personified. A wonderful listener. Loyal. Thoughtful. Humble. A true mensch.
To paraphrase his late father, we all won the lottery of life for having had the privilege of knowing and loving Kevin Rosen.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many doctors, nurses and specialists involved in Kevin’s care: the staff at the Motor Neuron Clinic, his WRHA Palliative Care Team, Diana at the ALS Society of Manitoba, “Smoky” Lisa and Brenda. Sincere appreciation to Harsh, Maggie, Avya and Harleen who honoured Kevin’s dignity and provided companionship at the most difficult stage of his illness.
Donations in Kevin’s memory can be made to the ALS Society of Manitoba or the University of Winnipeg.
A Celebration of Life is planned for the spring of 2026.
Obituaries
ALAN LEVY
On January 6, Alan Levy, age 71, died at Grace Hospital with his wife and daughters by his side.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Alan spent his childhood in the North End and later moved to River Heights, where his family settled on Brock Street.
After studying in Winnipeg and Tel Aviv, Alan moved to Toronto, where he lived for over 30 years. It was in Toronto where he raised a family with his first wife, Sylvia Bashevkin, worked in public sector human resources and fell in love with Chinese food.
In 2017, after brief stints as an academic in Regina and Brandon, Alan moved back home to the Peg, where he spent many fulfilling years with his devoted wife of 20 years, Cheryl Karlinsky, and their loving dogs. In his later career, he was appointed to the Labour Relations Board of Canada where he served as a skilled adjudicator and proud Canadian.
Alan was endlessly proud of his family, daughters Dalia Levy and Aviva Levy (Adam Walman) of Toronto, and two grandsons, Jonah and Ethan.
Predeceased by his parents Sheldon and Audrey Levy (nee Myers) of Winnipeg, Alan was a dedicated news junkie with a sharp sense of humour. He thrived most when discussing current events, cracking jokes and debating geopolitical crises. Much to his family’s frustration, he would stay up all night glued to the news, and they’d wake up to endless articles he’d shared the night before.
Alan had an exceptionally strong spirit of generosity and focus on ‘tikkun olam’ – repairing the world, which lives on in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful to the staff at Simkin for providing him with a phenomenal level of care over the last few years, especially Dr. Chung and Sara Reid, Assistant Director of Care. Special thanks to Paul, Victor and Almaze, his kind and patient caregivers.
The funeral took place at Chesed Shel Emes on January 8.
Donations in his memory can be made to The Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre https://www.simkincentre.ca.