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Obituaries

HARRY REISS

On Monday, July 3, 2023, at home, after a short illness, Harry Reiss passed away at the age of 93. He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Vicky Reiss (Shumsky), who predeceased
him, as did his parents, Ira and Raizel Reiss. He is survived by his children, Jeffrey, wife Marlis,
grandchildren Sheena, Anita, and Leanna; Alan; and Ken, wife Sonya, grandchildren
Chloe, Noah, and Charlie; younger siblings, Sam Reiss, Edward Reiss, and Ida Alpern; and his partner Honey Kowall.
Harry was born in Dunajow, Poland and escaped at age nine with his immediate family due to the growing threat of war and the Holocaust. They left Poland on the “Alaunia” of the Cunard White Star Line, eventually arriving in Halifax on April 16, 1939, then arriving by train to Winnipeg on April 19th, proceeding to Brooksby, Saskatchewan, before eventually settling on a farmstead in Edenbridge, SK, where Harry went to school and helped out on the farm. At age seventeen, due to financial reasons, Harry needed to leave school to find work and arrived in Winnipeg, working 70-hour weeks in a fur coat factory. In 1951, he went to New York City where he stayed with relatives to attend a 6-month course in Fur Designing & Fur Cutting at the Sol Vogel School of Designing. Upon his return to Winnipeg, Harry started his own business in the basement of his parents’ house (who had moved to Wpg. with his siblings earlier that year), sewing patterns and selling fur coats to department stores, in addition to bringing his father, uncle Joe, and brother Sam into the venture. Later, the business expanded first to James St. and later to the Bedford Building on McDermot & King, where it remained thereafter and known as Reiss Furs, engaged in both wholesale and retail sales. Over the years, Harry and his partner Sam, developed an extremely successful enterprise, becoming the largest furrier business in Western Canada, renowned for their high-end garments, with international celebrities and royalty amoungst their clientele. Indeed, they were the last independent furrier in Winnipeg, as eventually the marketplace was changing with less demand for fur coats. Ever the astute businessman, Harry had evolved the business into additionally involving retail sales of high-quality non-fur winter wear, as well as men’s and women’s fashion for some time. In the latter half of his career, Harry successfully expanded into the area of property management, acquiring a number of downtown Winnipeg buildings and parking lots. He continued with property management after the closing of his retail operations in 2008 and “semi-retiring” at nearly eighty years of age.
Harry started to date Vicky in 1956, with them marrying the following year. They enjoyed many happy years together, socializing with family and friends, and in later years looking forward to their winter vacations in Florida. Tragically, Vicky passed away after a brief illness in 2012, at the age of only 73. Fortunately for Harry, over the passage of years he developed a close relationship with Honey Kowall, leading to the two of them ultimately living together, and with him being warmly accepted into the Kowall family.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude for the compassionate care given to Harry by the healthcare-aides who assisted him in his later days, as well as the longstanding service of Judy Hansen.
Funeral services, officiated by Rabbi Kliel Rose, were held at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

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Obituaries

MICHAEL STERN

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Michael Stern on October 16, 2026 in Toronto.
He was born on October 31, 1949 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Sam and Esther Stern. He grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia and then to Toronto, Ontario.
Michael worked as a leading professional in the home security industry for over 25 years. He pioneered the development of new and innovative products for the companies he worked for.
He also served as a mentor and trainer for people at those companies where his deep knowledge of industry was invaluable in helping orient them in their roles. His leadership helped extend his organizations’ growth across Canada.
Michael was a loving brother to Andrea and Karen Stern and their spouses Isaac Singer and John Michaels. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and playful nature; as a devoted uncle, great uncle and cousin he brought joy to all those who had the privilege of being part of his extended family.
Michael dedicated his life to service to others. For over 10 years he was a Volunteer Coordinator for Huron Carol Food Bank Benefit Concerts which raised over $300,000 for Vancouver and Surrey Food Banks. As a volunteer Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada and a Head Coach for Little League Baseball, he extended his love to children in need outside of his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Michael’s memory be made to Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation.

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Obituaries

DEBBY HIRSCH (OLENICK) September 10, 1953 – October 8, 2026

After a prolonged illness, Debby (Olenick) Hirsch passed away at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the age of 73.

She is survived by: Brian, her beloved spouse of 46 years; her son Moshe and daughter-in-law, Chani of Baltimore, MD; her son Aron of Washington, DC; and her grandchildren, Tzippora Golda, Tuvia Mayer, Esther, Menucha, Russie, Sara Chava, Mindy, Aryeh Leib and Chaim Dov of Baltimore, MD. She is also survived by: her sisters, Gail (Arne) Wagner of Piedmont, CA and Roberta Olenick of Vancouver, BC; her aunt Marjorie Blankstein; her uncle Ernest (Evelyn) Rady; and her niece, cousins, other relatives and numerous friends in New York City, Winnipeg, Toronto, Keswick, Ottawa, Vancouver, San Diego and Hawaii. She was predeceased by: her parents, Tom and Mindel Olenick; her parents-in-law, Esther and Louis Hirsch; and grandparents, Anna and Zalman Olenick and Rose and Max Rady.

Debby was born in Winnipeg on September 10, 1953, the middle child of Tom and Mindel Olenick. Debby had a remarkable mind and a deep capacity for empathy and compassion. She truly loved children and they were central to almost every aspect of her life. After graduating from Kelvin High School, Debby earned her BA Honours, MA, and PhD in Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Her graduate work focused on helping autistic children to address behavioural challenges. She then completed a postdoctoral program in pediatric psychology and behavioural medicine at Harvard University and the Boston Children’s Hospital.

Just days before leaving Winnipeg for Boston, Debby met her husband Brian on a blind date. Debby wasn’t sure about meeting someone just before leaving town, but her friend insisted that this date might change her life. After a long-distance romance, Debby and Brian were married on August 11, 1980 in Winnipeg. They shared a lifetime of love, companionship and commitment. They stood together, caring for family, friends and each other.

Following several years in Boston, Debby and Brian moved to Calgary where Debby joined the Tom Baker Cancer Centre at Foothills Medical Centre. She used her behavioural medicine skills to help children with cancer and their siblings and parents face the daily challenges of testing, treatment and often loss. Debby understood the importance of caring for the entire family.

She and Brian then returned to Winnipeg to raise their own children. Her family was the treasure of her life. Debby was devoted to her husband and two sons, and then later on, her daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Her love was selfless and steadfast. She listened to every member of her family without judgement and with an understanding of their individual personality, aspirations and needs. She wanted for them whatever they wanted for themselves and was always there for them with support, warmth and compassion. Through her words and actions, Debby taught her children generosity, humility and trustworthiness.

Debby’s kindness and humanity reached beyond her family to her friends and to literally everyone she met. It was just intrinsic to her nature to make everyone feel heard, important and acknowledged. One of Debby’s most endearing attributes was her quick wit and sense of humour. Her gift for the perfectly timed one-liner or her hilarious descriptions of the most mundane events could lighten any moment.

Debby’s commitment to children and the community began long before her professional career. As a teenager, she worked as a counsellor at Summer Club, the Jewish day camp in Gimli. Throughout her life, she contributed her time and energy to organizations that were important to her, including: as a member of the advisory board at the McGillivray Montessori School; as a caseworker at Victim Services for the City of Winnipeg; and as a volunteer reader and baker with young children at the Jewish Community Centre where she found opportunities to work in lessons on fractions as the young bakers measured half a cup of flour or a quarter teaspoon of salt.

Debby loved to swim. Swimming was her daily early morning exercise and meditation. Friends described her as a beautiful, tireless swimmer who barely made a ripple in the pool. As a child, when it was still allowed, she regularly swam laps between the breakwaters at the harbour in Gimli. Debby loved Lake Winnipeg. She often said that she felt happiest and most at home at the family cottage in Gimli. She loved being with family and friends: swimming, building sand castles on the beach and exploring nature. She found peace and solace in being by the lake and releasing her thoughts and worries to the waves.

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to her team at CancerCare Manitoba for their kind and considerate care and to her gentle helpers from Home Instead who helped make it possible for Debby to remain at home until the last few days of her life.

A graveside service was held on October 11, 2026 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. Pallbearers were Arne Wagner, Gary Direnfeld, Alan Direnfeld, Max Blankstein, Gerardo Chernitsky and Rabbi Boruch Heidingsfeld. Honorary pallbearers were Marjorie Blankstein, Ernest and Evelyn Rady and Tzippi and Moshe Nahir.

Donations in Debby’s memory can be made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada where a fund has been established in Debby’s name to help protect her beloved Lake Winnipeg (https://secure.natureconservancy.ca/site/Donation2), Suite 1501-365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4, Tel 204-942-6053, or to a charity of your choice.

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Obituaries

Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website

Patricia CharadRut bat Avraham v’Sarah19/03/192715/10/20265 Cheshvan 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Debra Lynn HirschDevorah Leah bat Tuvyah v’ Chaya Mindel10/09/195308/10/202627 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Harry KaplanTzvi ben Gershon Yosef v’Dina16/03/193129/09/202619 Tishrei 5787Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Maurice AzuelosMoshe ben Yehuda15/08/194329/09/202618 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Lillian BurkeLeah Dvorah bat Shmuel v’Basia31/05/192828/09/202617 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Zinaida PinskiZinaida bat Michael v’Rachel22/12/194627/09/202616 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Aarona PerlovAharona bat Eliyahu v’Liba Freida11/05/195025/09/202614 Tishrei 5787Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Beth ShoreBat Sheva bat Susman v’ Craindel30/12/193923/09/202612 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Sydney Herbert WeidmanShimshon ben Moshe Leib v’Shoshana24/01/196218/09/20267 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Danny RichDan ben Sender v’Mindel30/04/193817/09/20266 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
June Marie BlackZahava bat Avraham v’Sarah30/06/193116/09/20265 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Ruth BillinkoffRachel bat Moshe v’Shaindel25/04/192815/09/20264 Tishrei 5787Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Adele HeidingerOdela bat Avraham V’Freida14/05/192411/09/202629 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Fred Arnold RosenblattEphraim ( Freidel Chuna) ben Zvi haKohen v’Gusta10/12/194710/09/202628 Elul 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Jack ShromYaacov ben Aryeh Leib v’Rachel02/03/193108/09/202626 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Raymond Richard GreenReuben Rafael ben Leib Natan v’Yetta04/02/195131/08/202618 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Rhoda KravetskyTziril Tovah bat Mendel v’Doba21/05/194829/08/202616 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Brent Drew CohenBinyamin ben Zvi ha’Kohen v’Esther02/10/195828/08/202615 Elul 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Liza LyuberLaya bat Lazer v’Malka05/12/192628/08/202615 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Michael TennenhouseMelech Shimon ben Hersh Tzvi v’Gileh22/04/194928/08/202615 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Inf
Lillian NeamanLeah Rivka bat Eliyahu v’Chana16/02/193421/08/20268 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Malik JuravskyMelech ben Levi Yitzchak v’Luba24/03/193119/08/20266 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Harvey AppelleChaim Tzvi ben Yehoshua v’Bayla08/05/194015/08/20262 Elul 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Mordy “Buddy” BrownstoneMordechai Leib ben Yishia v’Machla28/07/192611/08/202628 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Karen Leslie GomoriGayla bat Shlomo haLevi V’Chaya Sarah15/02/195010/08/202627 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Rhona ShnierRachel bat Shaul v’Chana04/07/192709/08/202626 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Belle BurkeBluma bat Zalman v’ Sara Elka12/05/192606/08/202623 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Reesa Gail LanghansReesa bat Yishayahu haKohen v’Faigel Tzipora17/09/194806/08/202623 Av 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Gerald KalefGershon ben Yitzchak v’Chana24/06/192801/08/202619 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Arthur Joseph NitikmanAharon Yosef ben Yisrael v’Devorah17/05/194029/07/202615 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Sheldon Berney–06/10/193628/07/202614 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Arthur ArkinAvraham ben Yitzchak haLevi v’Sarah22/05/192724/07/202610 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Dick BellDaniel ben David v’Chana28/12/192719/07/20265 Av 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Reesa NermanRivka bat Shlomo v’ Shaindel Leah30/05/195418/07/20264 Av 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Garry Israel FrankelGershon Israel ben Shlomo Moshe v’Miriam14/08/195313/07/202628 Tamuz 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Caroline Shelley RaberTzipi bat Yisrael v’Ita30/01/195511/07/202626 Tamuz 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Estelle MeyersEsther Tzivia26/10/194110/07/202625 Tamuz 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Alice Grace LazarSarah bat Avraham v’Sarah27/12/192608/07/202623 Tamuz 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Paula WolfmanPiya bat Mordechai v’Esther15/09/195308/07/202623 Tamuz 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Sharon Ricki FeuerSharona Rivka bat Avraham v’Sarah14/05/194008/07/202623 Tamuz 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Neil MargolisNissan ben Chaim Nechemia v’Deveorah29/07/193601/07/202616 Tamuz 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Sheldon Paul NemySolomon ben Moshe haKohen v’Rachel01/04/194723/06/20268 Tamuz 5786Hebrew Sick CemeteryMore Info
Murray KadysMoshe ben Shmuel v’Bayla12/01/194519/06/20264 Tamuz 5786Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage AveMore Info
Richard GordonYitzchak ben Yaakov v’Dina06/11/194314/06/202629 Sivan 5786Grays’ Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa MBMore Info
David Harold DiamondDavid ben Avraham Yehoshua haLevi08/04/192909/06/202624 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Sidney GreenSimcha ben Aharon v’Rosa01/08/192907/06/202622 Sivan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Cecile KowallTzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata24/05/193503/06/202618 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Joan HargraveChana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina14/07/195301/06/202616 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Irwin Barry StrongerYitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila16/09/194131/05/202615 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
David Ivan CohenDavid Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba06/06/195630/05/202614 Sivan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Phyllis Maxine HochmanTziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther31/12/194030/05/202614 Sivan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Alvin Murray ZivotAvraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam03/08/193127/05/202611 Sivan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Tova VickarTova bat Nachum v’Yenta24/08/194922/05/20266 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Karen LeipsicChaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel03/04/194421/05/20265 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Phyllis Lee DanaFayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya05/10/193617/05/20261 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Betty Brina SimonBayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam27/07/193515/05/202628 Iyar 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Basia Bayla FliegelBayla bat Leib31/05/193013/05/202626 Iyar 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Harold DiamondTzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana04/12/193512/05/202625 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Gary RayburnGershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha21/09/196509/05/202622 Iyar 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Ray SchnoorRaizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel13/06/192705/05/202619 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Gila Ruth FainsteinRachel bat Kiva v’Leah25/06/193504/05/202614 Iyar 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Toby SchwartzChaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana16/07/193201/05/202614 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Rachel WolmanRachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka03/02/196224/04/20267 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Leah GitlinLaya bat Yosef v’Frayda04/09/192608/04/202621 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Lin Joseph RosenbaumYosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah17/10/195206/04/202619 Nisan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Norman SteinNachum ben Avraham v’Chaya10/06/193206/04/202619 Nisan 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Marvin Saul SilverMenachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel20/11/194105/04/202618 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Kimberley Dawn KirshenbaumIsabella bat Avraham v’Sarah09/12/196903/04/202617 Nisan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Walter GanetskyZev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah23/09/194002/04/202615 Nisan 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Lorelei Camille LavittRachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa11/04/193626/03/20268 Nisan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Melvin MyersMoshe ben Chaim v’Rachel24/04/193624/03/20267 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info

To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/

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