Obituaries
EDITH SHPELLER (1928-2019)
We are sad to announce the passing of Edith Shpeller (nee Meyer) on December 16, 2019.
Edith was born in Ochtrup, Germany in 1928. She leaves to mourn her children Al Shpeller (& Karen) and Susan Goldstein (& Jeff), sister and brother-in-law Rita and Sam Swire, grandchildren Josh, Rebecca and Ben Goldstein and Shayna and Laia Shpeller, in addition to her nieces and their families.
Edith was predeceased by her husband Sam, parents Max and Frida Meyer, mother-in-law Sarah Rabinovitch, sister and brother-in-law Les and Max Gilmore, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pearl and Sam Nepon, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Irvin and Mabel Shpeller, nephew Les Nepon and nieces Barbara Nepon and Jodi Swire.
After her family fled Germany in 1938 they came to Canada in 1940, where they settled in Lorette, Manitoba. After living on a farm in Lorette for a few years, the family moved to Winnipeg, where they operated a grocery store on Ellice Avenue. In 1958 she married Sam Shpeller. Sam was a hard working locomotive engineer for the CNR, who sadly passed away at a young age in 1982. In 1984 Edith lost her eye site. While this had a profound impact on her life, it did not affect her optimistic outlook.
Edith was a wonderful and dedicated mother, sister and baba. With the help of family, friends and some wonderful care givers (special thank you to Lolita Giron) Edith continued to live in the home she and Sam raised their children, until the fall of 2019. She moved into the Simkin Centre where she enjoyed her final 2 ½ months. She will be remembered as a kind and gentle person, who was quiet and easy going, and never complaining. Her faith was important to her and she was a member of various Jewish groups including Hadassah, Pioneer Women and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. She was also a long-time fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and received great enjoyment watching the Bombers win the 2019 Grey Cup. In her later years her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. While she was never able to see her grandchildren, she made each one of them feel as though she really knew them and made them feel special. Sleepovers at her house were always a special treat. Her life was a blessing to us and she will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.
Funeral services were held at Congregation Etz Chayim on December 18, 2019. Pallbearers were Jeff, Josh and Ben Goldstein, Howie and Garry Gilmore and Barton Faiman. Honorary pallbearer was Sam Swire.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jewish Child and Family Service, Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre or the CNIB.
Obituaries
HARRY KREEL April 9, 1927 – October 20, 2025
It is with profound sadness that the family of Harry Kreel announces his passing on October 20, 2025 at the age of 98 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Ben and Rebecca Kreel; his brothers, Isadore and Boris Kreel; and his beloved wife Myrna, to whom he was married for 68 years.
Left to mourn his passing are his daughter Eileen; his son Darrell (Nicole); and his grandson Benjamin Kreel.
Harry was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and moved to Winnipeg in his early 20s. He spent his career in education. He was the Director of Special Education for the Winnipeg School Division, Principal of R.B. Russell Vocational School and he also taught in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.
Our parents loved to travel, and throughout their lives they travelled extensively throughout Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Upon his retirement, he and our mother were able to spend many wonderful winters in Palm Springs, as well as many visits to New York to visit family. The highlight for them was their trip to Israel, which was something they had always wanted to do, and they did.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, graveside at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We would like to express our sincerest thanks to Rabbi Carney Rose for officiating and for delivering a most beautiful and heartfelt service.
To the pallbearers, you know who you are, and we would like to thank you for being there for our father. We would also, at this time, like to thank the wonderful staff of Weinberg I at the Simkin Centre. You treated our father with the utmost kindness, respect, dignity and compassion, and for that we will be forever grateful. And last but certainly not least, to Sheryl, Tia, and Victoria Levine, to Leslie Stokoloff and Joe Lacey, we will be forever grateful for all your love and support during this most difficult time.
Should anyone so desire, donations may be made in our father’s memory to the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre or CancerCare Manitoba.
Obituaries
ROSALYN GOLFMAN (née LINHART)
Rosalyn Golfman (née Linhart) passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Winnipeg to Jack and Clara Linhart, Roz and her brother Sam grew up with a deep appreciation for education, music, and community. Her father, along with her mother who was an accomplished singer and performer in Jewish plays and on radio, instilled in her a deep appreciation for both hard work and family traditions. The tragedy of the Holocaust, which claimed the majority of her mother’s immediate family, profoundly shaped Rosalyn’s outlook on life, nurturing in her a strong sense of identity, resilience, and commitment to her Jewish heritage.
Growing up in a home filled with music, the aromas of traditional cooking, and the warmth of family celebrations, Roz developed a lifelong connection to her roots. Her devotion to the Jewish community continued throughout her life as she volunteered and chaired various programs at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and served as a member of the National Council of Jewish Women.
Education was one of Rosalyn’s greatest passions. She earned her B.A., M.Ed., a Ph.D. in Psychology, and a Masters in Family Therapy. As a clinical psychologist, Roz worked for 43 years dedicating her career to helping others. Rosalyn also served as President of the Manitoba Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and Chair of its Ethics Committee and taught at various times at the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg, and at Red River Community College.
Rosalyn’s greatest devotion was to her husband of more than 60 years, Charles (Chuck) Golfman. Together they traveled the globe and shared a lifetime of love and adventure. Their mutual curiosity led them to explore new places, lectures and forums, always seeking to expand their understanding of people and the world around them. Roz and Chuck raised three children – Jeff (Helen Huang), Lisa (Steve Kroft) and Jill (Mark Kantor). Her grandchildren – Angela, Nathan, Alex and Maya – were her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them, whether during family dinners, at her beloved Clearwater Bay, or on family trips. Rosalyn’s brother Sam (Judy) was a constant source of support, and the times Roz and Chuck spent with Sam and Judy in Phoenix and Aspen were always highlights for her. Family events with nieces, nephews, her numerous cousins and other relatives were also very special for Roz.
Rosalyn will be remembered for her compassion, intellect and unwavering devotion to family, her friends, and her Jewish faith. The values she instilled in her family will endure through them.
The family wishes to thank the many friends who supported Roz with gentleness, dignity and love. Thank you also to Dr. Marshall Pitz, Kim Paradoski and the caring and talented doctors and caregivers at CancerCare Manitoba and Grace Hospital who assisted Rosalyn and our family during this difficult journey.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rosalyn and Chuck Golfman Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.
Obituaries
MARK BERNARD SCHACTER
May 12, 1946 – October 19, 2025
We are sad to announce that Mark Schacter died peacefully in Vancouver on October 19, 2025, at age 79.
He was born in Winnipeg on May 12, 1946, and moved to Vancouver at the age of 22 to seek his fortune, and lived and worked there for the rest of his life, in a number of careers. He was a raconteur, a free spirit, a sports fan, a close observer of current events, and a good friend to many, as far away as Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles. He attended the Canada-Russia hockey series in Moscow in 1972, flew on the Concorde to London, and went to Rio for Carnival on a number of occasions.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Brent Schacter and Sora Ludwig, nieces Miriam Stoller (Michael), Isanne Schacter, and Jennifer Schacter (Neil Rockman), grandnieces Reina and Maddie Stoller, Beatrice Schacter, and Sally Rockman, and grandnephew Jacob Rockman.
He was laid to rest in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery near his parents on October 22, 2025. May his memory be a blessing.
Donations in his memory may be made to Yaletown House (www.yaletown.org) where he resided or to the charity of your choice.