Obituaries
GLORIA KOHM 28 Tammuz 5783
It is with profound sadness we announce that Gloria Kohm passed away on July 17, 2023, 84 years old, surrounded by family and friends, at the Victoria General Hospital. She was at peace.
Gloria had a beautiful soul. She was loving, courageous, strong, wise, determined, hard working with an adventurous spirit. She was a very warm, caring, passionate “full of life” person with a tremendous sense of humour. She always tried her best – never giving up, despite whatever challenges she faced.
Gloria was born in Winnipeg and grew on Matheson Street. She had an idyllic life, much loved by her parents Max and Gertrude Tessler, her brother Ivan and extended family. She was raised in a home filled with yiddishkeit, family and friends. She attended Luxton School and St. John’s School, cheder and the YMHA. The family attended the local synagogue where Max was a chazzan.
Max and Gertie left no stone unturned to locate any survivors of Max’s family from the Shoah– the Tesslers – and bring them to Winnipeg.
Gloria’s maternal grandparents, Isaac and Annie Altman lived nearby and ran a dry good store. Mom also brought much joy to them. She was a loving and beautiful child, with flaxen hair and blue eyes, who modeled in her youth.
Gloria enjoyed summers at their cottage on Pine at Winnipeg Beach.
Gloria loved regularly going with her father Max to his store, Academy Hardware. It was their special time together. Gloria watched her father act with integrity in business, and learned how to be a great salesperson. Max passed away in 1966.
Mom was an accomplished pianist. She was trained classically. She also had the voice of an angel. She loved to play and sing Yiddish pieces. She would often bring emotions to the surface of her audience.
Gloria attended the University of Winnipeg, beginning at age 16. She married at 18 and had three children (Nada, Lynne and Stuart). She often said that the greatest joy of her life was having children, and grandchildren. She loved us deeply. Sadly, Nada and Stuart passed away in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Her brother Ivan passed away in 2014.
Growing up, mom was the best. She cherished, supported and encouraged us. Nothing was too much for her kids. She was always organizing and finding ways to enrich our lives. Our home was open to neighbours and our friends. Friends enjoyed coming to our home as it was warm, welcoming, full of treats and mom’s amazing cooking! Gloria treated everyone with kindness and friends have commented through the years how mom helped them and positively impacted their lives.
Gloria attended night courses at the University of Winnipeg for years, as her children were growing up, to complete her Bachelor of Arts. Education was very important to mom and she instilled this value in her children. Her mother Gertie had attended University when it was not common for women to do so. Mom stressed the need to “get a profession so that you can always support yourself… you can do anything you desire.”
Once her kids were young adults, Gloria attended Social Work at the University of Manitoba and graduated with honors. At first, she worked with CFS in Winnipeg, but had a great adventure by moving at age 47 to the Northwest Territories to accept a job as the Area Superintendent of Social Services. She lived in Coppermine which is above the Arctic Circle, and did ground breaking work. She traveled by dog sled to remote areas, flew in small planes, went by boat, and skidoo as needed. She had a range of experiences including running the court, and arctic char fishing! Once she organized a charter flight for her and a few colleagues to fly to Greenland for the long weekend!
As her mother Gertie’s health was failing in 1988, Gloria returned to Winnipeg. After that, Gloria worked in sales – her forte. She was a great sales person who acted with integrity in all of her dealings with many satisfied customers through the years.
Gloria related to people in a very special way. She enjoyed people. She loved their stories, their history. She would talk to people wherever she went. She would connect with people and put a smile on their faces. People were drawn to her.
Gloria was compassionate. She would tell us to treat people well, “Be kind; if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all; Treat people how you want to be treated; Do not judge others.”
Mom also had other sayings that guided how we lived (as did her mother) such as “It’s better than a kick in the pants” (meaning be grateful); There is a lid for every pot (meaning there is a partner for everyone, so don’t give up hope); You have to accept the things you cannot change.” (meaning do not give up, persevere, and make the best of a situation).
Gloria was always up for a good adventure. She would spontaneously try new things without hesitation. She was a lot of fun. She had a good sense of humor!
Gloria was very well read and curious. Mom was interested in politics, history, geography, science, anthropology – everything really. She was dubbed the “Queen of Crosswords” and “Queen of Trivia”. As her vision was failing, mom would blurt out answers before we finished reading the question to her! It was amazing to watch her in action. She took the ritual bow and smile for each game played and won!
Mom loved to travel and would have wonderful stories and adventures she would regale us with for years. She also enjoyed Mah-jong, mysteries, movies and bowling.
Mom believed in giving back and among other things, was on the board of National Council of Jewish Women, president of Kiwanis ladies, a board member of the International Centre, and volunteer with United Way, Cancer Society and Women’s Health clinic.
Despite facing challenges, Gloria never gave up. She was strong. She was courageous. She did not falter. She was determined and pragmatic. She dealt with each blow with courage, optimism and dignity, setting an example to all who knew her.
A funeral service, officiated by Rabbi Matthew Leibl was held on July 20, 2023, at Chesed Shel Emes with interment at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.
Gloria was grateful to G-d for her blessed life. She was grateful for her family – her children, her grandchildren, Daniel and Ashley, her son-in-law Michael, her extended family and dear friends – especially her beloved friend Elizabeth. Her love was endless. The values and love she imparted earned her the love and respect of those who knew her. Although mom will be deeply missed, her life was an inspiration to us and her legacy will live on forever.
Donations may be made to the Jewish National Fund of Canada (204-947-0207).
Obituaries
ISABELLE BOOK
It is with sadness and gratitude for a life well lived, that we announce the passing of our family matriarch Isabelle Book. Izzy was born on November 21, 1925, and passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
She was predeceased by her parents Clara and Jacob Brownstein, her brother Walter, her sister Minnie Goldman, her beloved husband Arthur, her brother-in-law Noel and a fabulous group of women who shared a friendship that lasted decades.
She is survived by her 4 children, Warren and Faye Book, Marilyn and David Pressman, Jacqueline and Jory Stillwater and David and Elaine Book. She was a very proud Baba to Hilary Book, Deborah Book and Mike James, Laurie and Ginny Stillwater, Kayleigh and Barrett Ruggles, Adam Book and Gabe Bloomfield-Book and Seth Book and Amy Shore. She so enjoyed seeing pictures and videos of her great-grandchildren Hugo, Marcus, Reese, Maverick, Richie and Sullivan. She will also be greatly missed by her sister -in- law and dear friend Shirley Book.
Izzy had a great sense of humour and was often unable to get to the punchline of a joke because she was laughing so hard. She could be stubborn and strong minded. She would dig in her heels if she felt she was being pushed to make a decision she wasn’t ready to make. Izzy enjoyed time with family and friends but was also very comfortable with her own company.
Izzy knew what it meant to be a friend. She was a kind compassionate woman who cherished the people in her life and was always our biggest fan. Our mom was a quality human being who never forgot a birthday or anniversary. Izzy lived by the Golden Rule. She lived a long, healthy life but remained seriously young at heart.
There are memories to last a lifetime, ones that we will keep close as we honour her memory. We were blessed to have her for as long as we did, strong, loving and sharp until almost the end. She modeled what it meant to live a good life. She also did it on her terms.
The funeral took place on Sunday, February 9 at the B’nai Abraham Cemetery with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. Pallbearers were her grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at the Rosewood (Maple House) where she lived. She bonded with many of the wonderful people who cared and supported her there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
Naomi Lander Rosenthal February 14, 1940 – February 12, 2025
Naomi Lander Rosenthal was born in Winnipeg and passed away two days shy of her 85th birthday. She was the daughter of Drs. Jacob Joseph (Jack) Lander, a respected and beloved family practitioner in Winnipeg, and Clara (Shnay) Lander, a literary scholar and past President of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Board of Governors.
Naomi was a classically trained pianist and performed both formally and informally in many venues. She was always asked to play at any party where there was a piano. Her favorite classical piece was Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which readers can listen to and enjoy here. Naomi was heavily influenced by the version played by the pianist Glenn Gould, which approximates how Naomi approached it. Naomi had a great appreciation for complexity in musical style and composition. Her piano repertoire extended from Bach and Brahms to Elton John and Billy Joel.
Naomi lived in Toronto from 1968-1988 and then moved back to Winnipeg in 1989 to help care for her father when he became ill. She worked in senior executive assistant roles from the 1970s through the early 1990s in insurance, government and the non-profit sectors before retiring at age 65. Her work ethic, perfectionism and sense of mission throughout her career made Naomi a beloved team member, who also fostered life-long friendships with her supervisors and even their families.
In addition to music, Naomi had many interests, including gourmet cooking, film, science fiction and fantasy, and politics. Naomi could engage anyone in any number of subjects and was particularly interested in health and medicine. Naomi will now go on to teach medical students through the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ body donation program.
Naomi is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Ahava Rosenthal and Michael Shore, of Boston, MA; M. Sara Rosenthal and Kenneth Ain of Lexington, Kentucky; her grandchildren, Kayla Shore and Jacob Shore; her step-grandchildren, Maxwell Ain and Jacob Ain; her sisters, Myra Lander of San Mateo, California, and Judith Lander of Toronto; nephews Kalan Vuksanovich and Stephen Israels and many extended family members from the Lander families, Shnay families, and Rothberg families.
The family wishes to thank Richard (Dick) and Joanne Rothberg; Naomi’s wonderful caregivers at The Key, homecare assistance in Winnipeg, including Brian Boxall and Althea King; the Simkin Centre; and Elena Episcope for helping to make Naomi’s final years so much more comfortable.
A remembrance of Naomi will be held on Thursday evening, February 20th at 7 pm at 202 Lamont Blvd in Winnipeg. Donations in Naomi’s memory may be made to CancerCareManitoba or to the organization of your choice.
Obituaries
DR. ARTHUR G. HERSCOVITCH
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Arthur Herscovitch on February 3, 2025, at the age of 77.
Arthur will be remembered by his wife Linda, daughter Rennie (Mark), granddaughters, Anna and Miriam, sister Judy (Mel), brother Robert (Lynda), brother Martin (Rose), and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arthur started his long career as a clinical psychologist in Winkler, Manitoba. A year later he moved back to Winnipeg, where he spent 36 years working at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, where he helped thousands of patients through very difficult times.
Arthur and Linda loved to travel and visited places such as China, Turkey, Morocco and many countries in Europe, and they went on road trips all over North America. Arthur was a very creative man who enjoyed woodworking and sketching, and he loved to engage in physical activities such as jogging and weightlifting. Above all else, Arthur cherished his family and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.
Thank you to the wonderful staff at the Simkin Centre for your care of Arthur. Your patience, compassion and understanding are greatly appreciated.
A funeral service was held in Arthur’s honour at the Chesed Shel Emes on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.