Obituaries
ESTHER KATZ
With deep sadness we announce the sudden and peaceful passing of Esther Katz on December 15, 2022, at the age of 92. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Fay-Lynn Katz, (Martin Krawitz), her grand-children, Matthew (Desiree), Cara (David Coodin), Jonathan (Rachel), great-grand-children, Miles, Lyla and Phoebe, sister-in-law, Thelma Shore, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Edie and Minnie Shore, her husband, Morris, her two sons, David and Philip, and her brother, Victor Shore.
Esther was born in Winnipeg and had a happy childhood. She grew up alongside her big brother in a family home where all Jewish customs and traditions were observed. As a teenager she joined a Jewish youth group, where she met the love of her life, Morris. They married in 1951 and shared a wonderful life, blessed with the company of family and friends. Together, Morris and Esther ran Y-Not Grocery across from the University of Winnipeg, where the store still stands. They enjoyed travelling, especially with Victor and Thelma. Esther and Morris lovingly raised their two sons, providing them with Jewish education and instilling in both strong Jewish values.
Esther was a brave, resilient and independent woman. Although she suffered a number of tragic losses, after each she found the strength to move forward. Her youngest son, David, died suddenly in 1982; her husband, Morris, in 1985; and her son, Philip, in 2014. Throughout all of this adversity, Esther bravely soldiered on.
Esther maintained many lifelong friendships through neighbourhood activity, mah-jong, Bnai Brith Women’s bowling, National Council of Jewish Women, the YMHA Stay Young Club , the Shaarey Zedek seniors group and volunteer work .
Esther loved to walk, do crosswords, read, play cards and play games on the computer. She taught her grandchildren many card games. She was an amazing baker and shared her cookies with everyone. She loved to travel and visited many continents in her lifetime. Esther also enjoyed annual summer visits with her Toronto relatives at their cottage on Lake Muskoka. Above all else, Esther loved her family and, after the loss of her youngest son and husband, her focus became her son, Philip, daughter in-law, Fay-Lynn, and triplet grandchildren. Along with Fay-Lynn’s parents, Toby and Mayer Gutwilik, with whom she shared a very close friendship, Esther partnered in assisting to raise the triplets.
Esther was a wonderful and devoted grandmother who spent much of her time with her grandchildren, babysitting, crafting, playing cards and games, reading and driving them wherever they needed to go. She was blessed to have been at the triplets’ important events growing up, to have attended their b’nai mitvah, graduations, to have danced at their weddings and ultimately, to have met her great- grandchildren, Miles, Lyla and Phoebe.
Esther’s warm smile, her loving and sweet nature will be forever missed and remembered by her daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The family would like to extend its appreciation and gratitude to the Shaftesbury Retirement Residence, the Simkin Centre, and to special caregivers, Merlyn and Lisa.
Graveside funeral services were held at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park on December 19, 2022, officiated by Rabbi Leibl. Pallbearers were Matthew Katz, Jonathan Katz, David Coodin, Ian Shore, Sheldon Mindell, and Bernie Adelman.
For those wishing, donations in Esther’s memory may be made to the Morris and Esther Katz Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
JACOB (JACK) KLEIMAN FEBRUARY 8, 1927 – AUGUST 19, 2024
It was with great sorrow that we announced the passing of Jacob (Jack) Kleiman (Jacob ben Moishe) on Monday August 19, 2024 (16, Av) in his 98th year.
He was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Rose Kleiman, his brother, Harvey, and his sisters, Florence (the late Louis Selby), Betty (the late Joseph Gilfix) and Ruth (the late Ben Aisenstat). He is survived by his sister Ann of Bethesda, U.S.A. (the late Harold Eist). He will be missed by his many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grand-nieces, great-grandnephews, and great-grandnieces.
Jack’s maternal grandparents were among the pioneer families established in the then Hirsch Colony (founded 1892) by the Jewish Colonization Association in the Southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Jack and his late brother Harvey lived and farmed on the same land purchased by their parents in the area.
In later years he and his brother developed many business interests: initially farm implement and automotive sales and later oil exploration companies including Poplar Developments Ltd., drilling locally. They were well known in the surrounding community and were generous supporters of local charitable initiatives such as the Estevan General Hospital.
Jack and his brother were the last Jewish farmers in the Hirsch area and over the years were the subject of many literary articles and television interviews. Jack and his brother helped to maintain the Jewish cemetery in the Hirsch area until it was taken over as a historical site by the province. Due to advancing age, the family farm was sold in 2016 and both retired to Calgary to be nearer to family. This marked the closing of one chapter of Jewish history in Canada.
Jack was a talented mechanic who remained married to the land and devoted to his family. He was ever of good spirit. Although frail in body, Jack remained active mentally and involved in life until the end being always interested in the happenings of his extended family.
It is hard to adequately sum up a long life marked by both hard work, dedication to family, and good humour. The entire family remember him and honour him with love, affection, and good memories.
The family wishes to thank the many friends and neighbours in the Estevan area who provided help and support during his last years and especially to his dedicated care givers in Calgary.
The funeral was held in Calgary on August 22, 2024, at the Chevra Kadisha Chapel with interment at the 37th Street Jewish Cemetery.
The unveiling will take place on July 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM at the same location. Donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
EDITH LANDY
June 30, 1920 – July 2, 2025
After a long and fulfilling life, our Mother passed on July 2, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, she grew up as part of a large extended family.
Mother was predeceased by her parents, Joseph Mayer Freiden and Rivka (nee Fordman), our father, David Landy, and her sisters Syma Katz and Jennie Rich. Edith is survived by her five children and their families: Laurie Landy and Nora Spinks, Barbara and Paul Livingston, Bob and Rhonda Landy, Mark Landy and Jenifer, and Martin Landy, her grandchildren Saralyn, Adam, Alex, Joshua, Ethan, Caitlin, David, Alicia, Lily, and six great-grandchildren, her cousins Norma Chernick and Shlomo Mayman and her many friends and relatives.
Mom grew up as part of a large extended family in the North End of Winnipeg, guided by her father’s values of service, community and the importance of family. She entered the School of Nursing at the Winnipeg General Hospital, now the Health Sciences Centre. She progressed from general duty nurse to nursing supervisor and served as the Assistant Director of Nursing for 15 years until her retirement in 1983. Over the course of her five-decade nursing career, she raised five children, managed a household, cared for many extended family members and remained actively involved in the community.
Community was a foundation of Mom’s life. Mom was very proud of her volunteering at the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Fest and other community events. She and David were patrons of the arts, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Manitoba Opera. In 2024, she was recognized as the longest continuous subscriber to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
The North Centennial Seniors Association played an important role in our parents’ later years. She ran her kitchen crew, supervised Hot Dog Day and provided food for many bus trips. Mom’s legacy was the Grandma Grandpa Swim Club, which she established, raised funds for, and built into a strong organization.
After a long and remarkable life of service and giving care, Mom accepted the need to receive care. The Family would like to thank Melita and Nelissa for their care and dedication, as well as the staff of the Simkin Centre, especially on Weinberg 2.
We cannot put into words how much she will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Joseph Freiden Scholarship for Jewish Studies at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
A service was held July 4, 2025, at Chesed Shel Emes – Winnipeg.
Obituaries
SUSAN DIANA FRANKEL
In the kitchen above her to-do list, Susan Diana Frankel kept a comic strip of a mother bird encouraging her baby to take its first leap into flight. “Go for it!” reads the speech bubble above the mother bird. But a second bubble shows her thinking silently to herself: Just don’t go too far.
I’ve always thought that image perfectly captured our mom. She was our biggest cheerleader and greatest supporter – and out of sheer love, she wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible: Matthew and Elly, Robby and Rae, Jed and Eugenia, and our devoted dad, Harvey, her partner of 45 years. In addition to being a loving mother and spouse, she was a perfect grandmother – or “Boba” – to her three granddaughters: Romi, Esti, and Aria, whom she loved obsessively. Our mom passed away at home on June 4. She was our best friend, and to say we are devastated or that we will miss her greatly feels wholly inadequate.
Predeceased by her parents Max and Esther Weinstein and her older brother Joel (Cathie), she will forever be loved and remembered by her brothers Sidney (Grace) and Barry (Sharon), her sister Ronni (Michael), her confidante Edie (Marcel), as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends.
Susan was born the youngest of five children on February 8, 1958, in Winnipeg. The Weinstein family lived in Melville, Saskatchewan, until 1963 before settling in Winnipeg for good. She spent summers in Gimli and at BB Camp, attended both Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba (as well as spending a semester at the University of Miami while visiting her parents at their winter condo in Florida – Go Hurricanes!).
My mom married our dad, Harvey, in 1981. They were a shining example of a loving partnership – completely devoted to each other in sickness and in health. They raised us three boys to be close and family-oriented. It feels strange to reduce some of my mom’s favourite places and memories to a list, but that list would include: the family cottage in Gimli, traveling to Palm Springs, Florida, Toronto, Hawaii, Italy, and Las Vegas, shopping and dining with friends and family, playing Mahj, chatting about movies and shows, dragging my dad to social outings and making him change his outfit before they left the house, watching Winnipeg Jets games, and constantly rewatching videos of her granddaughters.
Our mom had a way of making people she’d just met feel like part of her inner circle. She was genuinely interested in what you were doing, how it was going, and how she could help. She asked questions (sometimes a few too many!) because she cared – never because she was nosy. She had a wonderful sense of humour and truly loved to laugh. When something was really funny, you’d sometimes get a snort and even a tear or two. She was simply the best.
Our family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received during this extremely difficult time. A special thank-you to the healthcare workers who gave our mom such a remarkable quality of life despite living with stage 4 cancer for more than seven years: Dr. Marshall Pitz, all the nurses and staff at CancerCare, her homecare worker Lisa, and our family’s incredible friend and caregiver, Gemma Marciano.