Obituaries
GLORIA REMIS BROWN March 2, 1922 – July 6, 2020
With great sorrow, we announce the passing of Gloria Brown on Monday, July 6, 2020 at 98 years of age.
She will be sadly missed by her children, Rhonda Bland, Susan and Bruce Rosner; her grandchildren, Laura Bland, Jeffrey and Karen Bland, Kimi Rosner and Mark Unruh, Adam and Andrea Rosner, Jamie Rosner and Frances Rosner and her great grandchildren, Rory, Sawyer, Georgia and Colette Bland, Sampson Rosner-Unruh, Jill and Max Rosner, and Jude Rosner.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Roy Phillip Brown, her parents, Boris and Betty Remis, her brothers, Leonard Remis and Bernard Remis, her sister-in-law, Elaine Remis, and her son-in-law, Dr. Charles Sheldon Bland.
Special appreciation to her devoted caregivers, Esther, Ivy, Daisy, Amor, Jeanette, Odessa, Liza 1, Liza 2, Nelia, and her nurse, Jan.
Gloria was born in Winnipeg and grew up at 260 Manitoba Avenue. She attended the Peretz School and graduated from St. John’s Tech High School in 1939, and from the University of Manitoba, School of Interior Design, Faculty of Architecture, in 1942. Interior Design was a new program at the University and Gloria was in the second graduating class. She was awarded two scholarships while a student there.
She met and started dating her future husband, Roy, in the spring of 1943. He was a physician, practicing in Gladstone, Manitoba at the time. They were introduced by Roy’s sister, Sadie Stein. They were able to see each other when he came into the city on weekends and in between, they wrote letters. It was wartime, and courtships were short. They were married on October 5, 1943. They honeymooned in New York City, and when they returned they created their first home together in Gladstone. Roy was the only physician for miles around and Gloria learned to become a homemaker par excellence. She was already an accomplished seamstress, but now she honed her culinary and baking skills for her husband and his bachelor farmer friends.
They welcomed their two daughters in 1944 and 1947. And in late autumn, 1947, they moved back to Winnipeg, where they purchased a home on Brock Street in River Heights and Roy commenced his practice at Sargent and Spence.
They joined Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and Gloria became involved in the Sisterhood, National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah, where she was President of her chapter.
In 1953, Gloria and Roy built a new home on Waterloo Street, and in 1959, they built their cottage on Falcon Lake. Summers at the lake were wonderful and created memories that have been elevated in the family lore.
Together they moved to Rochester, NY in 1966, where Roy became a Resident in Radiology. Wherever life took her, Gloria was supportive of her husband’s endeavours. During those years, she called Roy her student prince.
Upon completion, they moved to Toronto where they lived in Willowdale and again, Gloria adapted, reached out, became involved and made new friends.
They sailed the Glory B from the Island Yacht Club on Lake Ontario. She was a volunteer at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. She became an avid bridge player. Gloria and Roy were enthusiastic supporters of the symphony and ballet. Gloria loved to travel and during those years she and Roy had many wonderful trips.
Her interest in ceramics led her to study pottery for many years.
Gloria was accepted at the Ontario College of Art and in 1986, she graduated with a Diploma in Design. When she started the program, she was a ceramicist, but, by the time she completed the course, she was designing and constructing beautiful furniture. She was an older returning student in her class, but that didn’t deter her from making very good friendships with classmates younger than her own children.
Gloria and Roy returned to Winnipeg in 1994, necessitated by Roy’s illness. She was by his side until he passed in 2000. The foundation of her devotion was their long shared history of love, admiration and respect for each other.
Gloria will be remembered by her family as a woman who blended tradition with the changing world. She had a clear and insightful intellect. Her loving and loyal dedication to her family was reciprocated abundantly.
Through her life, she sewed beautiful pieces, first for herself and then later for her daughters, grandchildren. and great grandchildren. But the most wonderful thing she stitched was the tapestry of our family – weaving each and every generation and each and everyone of us into the whole.
She will be forever missed.
Funeral services were held at Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park on July 8, 2020.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Roy Phillip Brown and Gloria Brown Medical Entrance Scholarship, Award #25532, University of Manitoba, give.umanitoba.ca, 204-474-9195, or a charity of donor’s choice.
Obituaries
IRENE MARANTZ (nee KATZ) November 28-1950 – March 30, 2025
Our mother, Irene , passed peacefully in her own home at the age of 94. Irene was predeceased by: her parents, Abe and Sally Katz , her husband; Cyril Marantz, sister Clarice Rosenbloom, brother Max Katz, sister Bernice Grant, her sons-in-law Mike Langer and Bruce Cook
Irene is survived by her children: Jeff Marantz and Barb, Debra Marantz, Susan Marantz, Ellen Marantz, and brother Harvey Katz; her grandchildren, Sarah Marantz Lindenberg and Ira, David Marantz and Olivia; her great-grandchildren Rose, Izabella and Max; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Our mother was born in Fort Francis, Ontario. After meeting and marrying my father Cyril she moved to Winnipeg. Mom loved that she moved to Winnipeg and had this large Jewish community for which she became an integral part of and it became a major part of her life.
Once her youngest daughter Ellen was in school, she went to work at the family business : Marantz and son, as a bookkeeper, and worked there until her early 70s.
Irene love to go to synagogue and be a part of Rosh Pina congregation. She was also a member of the sisterhood and was very involved in the activities in and around the synagogue. She was so grateful to learn Hebrew and to be able to participate in the Shabbat and other holiday services.
She spent every summer since the birth of her eldest son Jeff, at Winnipeg Beach.
She loved the beach riding her bike, going for long walks, meeting with her beach friends, playing cards and sharing good meals.
Irene was a kind soul.
She never had a negative word to say about anybody and nobody ever had anything but a kind word to say about her.
Her family was the light of her life. She encouraged her children to pursue their dreams and be the best they could be.
She was a loving and caring grandmother to her grandchildren, and her home was always opened to them, her friends, her children’s friends and even to strangers.
Funeral was held on April 2
Pall bearers were : David Marantz, Ira Lindenberg, Allan Marantz, Ari Marantz, Stephen Rosenbloom, Hartley Katz. Honorary pall bearer: Josh Marantz
Obituaries
SYLVIA BASS NOVEMBER 19, 1924 – MARCH 14, 2025
On March 14,2025, after a very long life and a brief illness Sylvia Bass (nee Breitman) passed away peacefully. She is survived by son Ken, daughter Robyn Lerner (Neal) and grandchildren Jordyn (Tina), Shea (Anna) and Blake (Jacqueline). She is predeceased by her husband Harold and her four siblings (Alvin, Joseph, Belle and Shirley).
Sylvia was born on November 19, 1924, and had her North End Winnipeg childhood shaped by the rigours of the Great Depression. When the warehouse that employed her father went out of business in 1931 her mother, a seamstress, regularly worked late into the night to keep the family from destitution.
In 1942 Sylvia graduated from Isaac Newton High School with an A average and entered the world of work as a receptionist and secretary. In the pre- Dictaphone era this was a challenging vocation, requiring mastery of the arcane language of Gregg and Pitman shorthand. Her employers included Dr. Art Lerner and a forerunner agency of Jewish Child and Family Services.
In 1948 Sylvia met her life partner Harold Bass, an auto mechanic and auto body shop proprietor. After they married, at the fashionable Marlborough Hotel, she devoted herself to providing a home for her husband and children -Ken, born in 1950 and Robyn, in 1960. Her responsibilities increased in the Fall of 1966 when Harold decided on a radical career change, from the auto trades to government employment as a welfare worker.This meant attending an eleven month college course, available only in Brandon.
Sylvia was always sociable, enjoying the company of her Garden City neighbours, her many friends and her large extended family. For many years she was active in Pioneer Women (Na’amat), and a memorable 1971 trip to Israel strengthened her connection with the homeland. She and Harold also travelled to Chicago and Florida, as well as several trips to Las Vegas, where she indulged the Breitman family taste for gambling.
In their later years Sylvia and Harold focused their attention on their grandchildren, letting everyone know of their many and various accomplishments. Unfortunately, in 2009 Harold suffered serious health problems and was no longer able to live at home. He died the next year. Because her natural sociability made living alone out of the question Sylvia moved to the Portsmouth Retirement Residence, where she was a vital part of the community for the next sixteen years.
The funeral took place at the Chesed Shel Emes on Sunday, March 16 with interment at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery, Rabbi Anibal Mass presiding. Pallbearers were Jordyn Lerner, Shea Lerner, Blake Lerner, Harrison Katz, Ramy Penner and Benji Winestock. Neal Lerner, David Davis and Ken Bass were honorary pallbearers. Our thanks to the caring staff at the Portsmouth, JTRC Care Services and the Grace Hospital. Special thanks to Dr. Terry Babick, who cared for Sylvia for many years and helped her to reach 100.
Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to do so to an Israeli – linked charity of their choice.
Obituaries
CAROL LITMAN FEBRUARY 9, 1942 – MARCH 25, 2025
It is with heavy hearts and gratitude for a life well lived, that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Carol. She passed away March 25,2025 in Winnipeg at home with loving family and friends by her side.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, Lorry and Shirley Turbovsky, her husband Leslie Litman, her brother Eugene Turner, her sister-law Sharon Turbovsky, her brother-in-law Rabbi Jim Diamond, Leslie’s daughter Kathy Robin Litman, Leslie’s son Michael Richard Seth Litman. She leaves behind her brother Jerry Turner (Donna), her brother Harvey Turbovsky, her daughter Maureen Litman, Leslie‘s children, Lorry Litman, James Litman, Nancy Litman and Leslie’s sister Judy Diamond.
Carol was born on February 9, 1942 and grew up in the north end of Winnipeg.
In the last few months Carol received much kindness and care from many friends, family and health care teams.
Carol wanted them all to know how much she appreciated them for the care, comfort, support, and friendship they provided her.
She wanted to express her immense gratitude to her dear friends Lyla and Evon, Jennifer and Wayne, Marilyn, Linda, Carol, Estrad, and Mary-Anne, to her daughter Maureen and her late husband Leslie for all the years of love and support they shared together, to her brother Harvey for his constant support, to her niece Sheree whom she adored, to Leslie’s son James for the levity he provided her, to Leslie’s son Lorry for his tender care and devotion to her, and to the Palliative care team, the MAID team, and the Mara home care team.
Carol was the kindest, most generous person who loved life, enjoyed music and visiting with her many friends and neighbors. Carol loved to laugh and had a wicked sense of humor. Carol‘s greatest happiness came from time spent with those she loved. Her warmth, kindness and unwavering loyalty and support will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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