June 25, 1929 – November 14, 2018
Ettie Robinson passed away peacefully in Winnipeg on November 14, 2018. She lived out her final days at home surrounded by family, as was her wish.
Ettie is survived by her children Terry & Freda, Bonnie, Evan & Cindy, David & Liz, and grandchildren Kelly, Sean, Joshua, Ari, Zev, and Daniel, siblings Reisa Libling, Penny Kalef, and Marshall Peikoff. She was predeceased by her loving husband Earl W. Robinson, parents Malick and Rose (Rabinovitch) Peikoff, and sister Elsa Wall.
Ettie was born Ethel Peikoff, on June 25, 1929, the second of five children of Malick and Rose. She grew up in a very close family in Rossburn, MB. The family lived above their parents’ general store, where Ettie loved to help her father. After high school in Rossburn, Ettie graduated in 1949 with a BA from the U of M, and a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University in 1950. She then worked as a social worker at the Family Bureau, and volunteered as a board member with Jewish Child and Family Service and later B’nai Brith Camp.
After graduation she met Earl Robinson, marrying at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in Winnipeg, August 2, 1951. They were a strong team, raising four children, keeping a Jewish home and growing the family business (S.I.R. Sports) together. Ettie was kind, loving and supportive of her children and grandchildren, and was extremely proud of their accomplishments.
Ettie excelled at badminton, bowling, tennis and golf, embroidery and knitting. She had a keen eye for beauty in art, fashion and home décor. She read voraciously and completed the newspaper puzzles in ink. She played Mahjong and Bridge, attended concerts and book club. Through all of these activities she had a large network of wonderful friends.
The many summers spent at Big Whiteshell Lake were formative for the children and a focus of family life. It was special that Penny, her sister and best friend, lived next door at the lake. Ettie and Earl travelled to many places around the world. Later in life they enjoyed cruises as a couple and with family. They especially loved their winter homes in Maui and later Palm Springs and spending time there with family and friends.
Ettie loved and was loved by so many. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be dearly missed.
Memorial donations may be made to the ‘Earl & Ettie Robinson Fund’ at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to CancerCare Manitoba.
Funeral services were held at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Friday, Nov. 16. Pallbearers were Evan, David, Liz, Ari and Zev Robinson and Daniel Rosenfeld.
