Obituaries
ETHEL CHOCHINOV March 28, 1933 – January 17, 2024
Ethel was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 1933, and moved to Winnipeg as a young girl with her parents, Beatrice and Isaac Shnider and her brother Sol. She grew up on Glenwood Crescent on the east side of the Red River, ate raspberries and apples from the garden, loved school, and played with her best friend, Audrey Vineberg who lived down the street, She had a happy girlhood. As a smart, talented and driven young woman, she dreamed of becoming a doctor, but was talked out of it by her brother (women weren’t all that welcome into Medical School back then), so went into Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba instead. She graduated in 1955 with the silver medal, losing out to Audrey for the gold by only one point.
But she won the biggest prize anyway, because that’s where she met Earl Chochinov, a fellow Pharmacy classmate. They locked eyes and began the next, best and lasting chapter of Ethel’s life. Married in 1956, they became partners in love, life and business. Starting with the purchase of their first store—Eldorado Drugs on Henderson Highway—they retired 30 years later as the proud owners and operators of a successful chain of four retail drugstores across the city. Ethel was a full partner, controller, office manager, and decision-maker with Earl in their enterprise. She worked hard and loved being an independent career woman. Later as a retiree, she used her proven management and financial skills in both paid and volunteer capacities. From 1987 – 2000, she was a part-time Management Services Program Advisor to family businesses with the Business Development Bank of Canada. As an active and committed volunteer, she was secretary/treasurer of her strata council for many years, and held many executive roles at the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria – her beloved organization that became like a second home to her and Earl for over three decades.
Ethel had a rich and active personal life – family, friends, tennis, golf, volunteering, and then a major move across the country to Victoria, BC in 1994. Always in the company of Earl (except for one single night when he went on a business trip to Flin Flon, and when one of them was in the hospital), they created a glorious life on the west coast that became their cherished home ever since. The years were full of adventures in travel, a community of wonderful friends that became their “fRamily”, winters in Palm Springs, pilates, more golf, tennis, entertaining, Mah Jong and late-night online poker.
Ethel was a devoted mother and bubbie, always so supportive of her kids’ many interests, educational pursuits, and very proud of the careers they chose and the marriages they made. She had a special bond with her only grandchild, Bronwyn, who made her heart even bigger with every visit and conversation. She was a woman whose sharp mind, unwavering loyalty and dedication to supporting others were the defining attributes of who she was in this world. Her enduring and devoted love story with Earl will one day be made into an Oscar-winning movie.
Ethel is survived by Earl, daughter Deena (Eric Posen), son Allan (Victoria Brown), and granddaughter Bronwyn.
The family sends their endless gratitude and thanks to Drs.Ted and Priya Rosenberg of Home Team Medical, and the entire staff at Amica Douglas House. These compassionate and expert professionals took outstanding care of Ethel, and offered her their unwavering support and kind attention every single day.
Funeral services were held at Hatley Jewish Cemetery, Victoria, BC on Friday, January 19.
Donations to honour Ethel’s blessed memory can be made to the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria https://jccvictoria.ca
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| Sheldon Paul Nemy | Solomon ben Moshe haKohen v’Rachel | 01/04/1947 | 23/06/2026 | 8 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Cemetery | More Info |
| Murray Kadys | Moshe ben Shmuel v’Bayla | 12/01/1945 | 19/06/2026 | 4 Tamuz 5786 | Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Ave | More Info |
| Richard Gordon | Yitzchak ben Yaakov v’Dina | 06/11/1943 | 14/06/2026 | 29 Sivan 5786 | Grays’ Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa MB | More Info |
| David Harold Diamond | David ben Avraham Yehoshua haLevi | 08/04/1929 | 09/06/2026 | 24 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sidney Green | Simcha ben Aharon v’Rosa | 01/08/1929 | 07/06/2026 | 22 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Cecile Kowall | Tzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata | 24/05/1935 | 03/06/2026 | 18 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Joan Hargrave | Chana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina | 14/07/1953 | 01/06/2026 | 16 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Irwin Barry Stronger | Yitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila | 16/09/1941 | 31/05/2026 | 15 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| David Ivan Cohen | David Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba | 06/06/1956 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Maxine Hochman | Tziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther | 31/12/1940 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Alvin Murray Zivot | Avraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam | 03/08/1931 | 27/05/2026 | 11 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Tova Vickar | Tova bat Nachum v’Yenta | 24/08/1949 | 22/05/2026 | 6 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Karen Leipsic | Chaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel | 03/04/1944 | 21/05/2026 | 5 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Lee Dana | Fayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya | 05/10/1936 | 17/05/2026 | 1 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Betty Brina Simon | Bayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam | 27/07/1935 | 15/05/2026 | 28 Iyar 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Basia Bayla Fliegel | Bayla bat Leib | 31/05/1930 | 13/05/2026 | 26 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Harold Diamond | Tzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana | 04/12/1935 | 12/05/2026 | 25 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gary Rayburn | Gershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha | 21/09/1965 | 09/05/2026 | 22 Iyar 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Ray Schnoor | Raizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel | 13/06/1927 | 05/05/2026 | 19 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gila Ruth Fainstein | Rachel bat Kiva v’Leah | 25/06/1935 | 04/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Toby Schwartz | Chaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana | 16/07/1932 | 01/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rachel Wolman | Rachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka | 03/02/1962 | 24/04/2026 | 7 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Leah Gitlin | Laya bat Yosef v’Frayda | 04/09/1926 | 08/04/2026 | 21 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Lin Joseph Rosenbaum | Yosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah | 17/10/1952 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Norman Stein | Nachum ben Avraham v’Chaya | 10/06/1932 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Marvin Saul Silver | Menachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel | 20/11/1941 | 05/04/2026 | 18 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Kimberley Dawn Kirshenbaum | Isabella bat Avraham v’Sarah | 09/12/1969 | 03/04/2026 | 17 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Walter Ganetsky | Zev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah | 23/09/1940 | 02/04/2026 | 15 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Lorelei Camille Lavitt | Rachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa | 11/04/1936 | 26/03/2026 | 8 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Melvin Myers | Moshe ben Chaim v’Rachel | 24/04/1936 | 24/03/2026 | 7 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/
Uncategorized
KAREN LEIPSIC
April 3, 1944 – May 21, 2026
Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend, Chaya Tova bat Raisel v’Calman.
Born on April 3, 1944, in Saskatchewan, Karen (Chaya Tova) was raised in a deeply rooted Jewish home built by parents whose courage and resilience shaped generations to come. Her father, Calman, was born on the Lipton Baron Hirsch colony, established by Jewish immigrants seeking refuge and opportunity in Canada. Her mother, Rose Bercovici, emigrated from Solitza, Romania, in 1930, leaving behind family and a world she would never see again. Together, they created a home grounded in love, Yiddishkeit, chesed, and unwavering Jewish pride.
Raised initially in Dysart, Saskatchewan, and later in Melville, Karen grew up surrounded by family, Jewish tradition, and a close-knit prairie Jewish community that remained central to her identity throughout her life. She spoke often and lovingly of those formative years and carried their values with her always.
As a young woman, she moved to Winnipeg, where she built a new chapter of her life with her best friend Shirley Anne Teplitsky Z”L and soon met the love of her life, Peter who was a devoted husband to the very last moments. They married in 1970 and together built a home filled with warmth, laughter, resilience, ahavat Yisrael, and unconditional love.
She was a fiercely devoted mother who believed deeply in the limitless potential of her children. Her love, encouragement, and strength shaped every aspect of their lives. She taught her family to be proud Jews, to carry themselves with dignity and confidence, and never to fear adversity. Her support was constant, her standards high, and her love unwavering.
Karen had an unique gift to make people feel seen and special. She was incredibly warm and kind and would never miss an opportunity to take time to engage with everyone she encountered each in a unique and personal way sharing support and kindness with everyone she met. She saw the uniqueness in all of humanity in a fashion that is so incredibly rare.
In 2001 and 2004, she welcomed a cherished daughter-in-law Karly and son-in law Kevin into the family. To her they were simply her children. She loved them with the same depth and constancy. In 2004 she embraced what would become one of the great joys of her life: becoming “Bobbie.” Nothing brought her greater happiness than her grandchildren. She adored each of them uniquely and completely, delighting in their personalities, interests, accomplishments, and everyday moments. From Shabbos dinners and movie nights to family trips in Spain and Costa Rica and Israel, Disneyland adventures, and countless chaggim and seders celebrated together, she created memories that will remain treasured forever.
Karen lived with extraordinary Jewish pride and a profound love for her people. Her life embodied resilience, humour, love and devotion to family. She remained deeply connected to her roots, her upbringing, and the traditions she inherited and passed forward.
Even in her final months, she continued to bring her family together through shared travels, laughter, conversations, and moments of closeness that are now cherished gifts. Though her illness came suddenly and heartbreakingly, the love she gave over a lifetime remains enduring and immeasurable.
She leaves behind a heartbroken but deeply grateful family: her beloved husband Peter; her children Sarah (Kevin) and Jonathon (Karly); her treasured grandchildren Isabella Rose, Hugh, Carsyn, Ryann, Cole, Ty, and Sydney; extended family; lifelong friends; and all those whose lives were enriched by her warmth, strength, wisdom, and kindness.
Her family wishes to express profound gratitude to the many relatives, friends, caregivers, and members of the community who supported them with love, compassion, prayers, and acts of kindness during her illness.
Tehei nishmatah tzrurah bitzror hachayim — may the soul of Chaya Tova bat Raisel v’Calman be bound in the bonds of eternal life.
May her memory forever be a blessing to her family, her friends, and all of Klal Yisrael.
Obituaries
DAVID H. DIAMOND
David H. Diamond, born on April 8, 1929, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026, at the age of 97.
Dave grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Penn State University. He proudly served in the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
In 1955, he married Miriam, and together they shared more than 70 years of devotion, partnership, and love.
Dave was a proud and loving father to Sharon (Hillel) and Aubie (Susan); a cherished grandfather to Josh (Samantha), Azriel (Carrie), Daniel (Jenn), Yael (Yoel), and Noah (Tali); and a beloved great-grandfather to 13 great-grandchildren, all of whom are his treasured legacy.
David excelled in his business ventures and was highly regarded and respected by all who knew and worked with him as a man of unwavering integrity.
The family extends enduring gratitude to the staff on Weinberg 3 at the Simkin Centre, who cared for Dave with exceptional love, kindness, and compassion.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.
Donations in David’s memory may be made to the Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund through the Jewish Foundation at 204-477-7520.

