Obituaries
LAURA LORETTA RICHMAN
Laura Richman (née Newhouse) was born on May 2, 1932 and, after a rich life, passed away on December 10th at Grace Hospital, the same place that she was born to her loving parents, Alex and Annie Newhouse. Laura was the oldest of 4 children and is survived by her brother Jack Newhouse (wife Deannie) and sister Myrna Reinhorn (predeceased by husband Leonard). She was predeceased by her sister Tyra Rauch (predeceased by husband Peter Rauch) and her beloved husband of 57 years, Harold Richman. Laura is survived by her children: Joy Richman (predeceased by husband Euan Taylor), Sally Slater and her husband Michael Slater, Rebecca Richman and her husband Dov Lazar, as well as 4 grandchildren: Matthew Slater, Samara Slater, Teagan Richman-Taylor and Phoebe Richman-Taylor.
Laura had a wonderful life in Winnipeg that was enriched by generations of close family surrounding her from the start of her life. Laura grew up on Jessie Avenue in a tiny house, within walking distance of her father’s corner store on Corydon, also Kelvin High School. When Laura turned 19, she took a solo trip to New York that established hers as an independent, modern woman of the 1940s. Laura decided to become an x-ray technician, a new imaging technology at the time. She trained and worked at the historic Mount Carmel Clinic, which provides services to families to this day. Laura married Harold in 1953 and kept working for 2 years up to the birth of Joy. When Laura was a new mother, she spent many happy days with her lifelong girlfriends who were also new mothers. In those hectic early days, with two young toddlers at home, Laura started volunteering for Jewish causes. In 1958 she joined the Golda Meir Chapter of the Hadassah WIZO, where she became president. Laura and Harold chose to send their children to the I.L. Peretz Folk Shul. At that time one generation of Richmans attended the same school so the connection was carried forward to Joy, Sally and Rebecca. From those Yiddish days at the Peretz School, Laura developed a burning desire to strengthen the Jewish community. She went onto co-chair the Women’s division of the Combined Jewish Appeal in 1978-1979 with her dear friend Evelyn Pearlman. Laura became president of the Winnipeg chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) in 1988, the same year that the Gwen Secter Centre for Creative Living opened. Laura and Harold were founding members of the Gwen Secter Centre, which continues to provide services for seniors to the present day. During her time in the NCJW, Laura worked closely with Sharon Allentuck and other strong women who also became president. The culmination of Laura’s endeavors came in 2004, when she was awarded the Max and Molly Shore Tzedakah award for her outstanding charitable work in the Winnipeg Jewish community.
Charitable work and family were the backbone of Laura’s adult life but that is not all. She was a very energetic person who packed so much into her life. Laura was a regular player in a highly competitive Tuesday night Bridge club that lasted until she was well into her 80s. She was also a passionate golfer, spending many weekends at Bel Acres and Glendale golf clubs with her husband and her golf friends. Laura became such a good golfer that she had a career total of 6 holes in one. Laura also built an equally busy life in Sun City West, Arizona, with Harold, where she kept her golf and fitness going in the winter. It was in Sun City West that Laura took up her most recent passion, quilting. Those winters in Arizona gave Laura the time to produce dozens of colourful quilts that adorn the houses of her children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Laura’s happy life was reflected in her personality. She had a strong drive to do her best for others in her family and beyond. She generously hosted family and community events at her house. She supported family members through the difficult times. Laura was an inspiration for her daughters and they picked up her qualities of grit, lifelong learning, maintaining close friendships, and the pursuit of many interests. Laura was fiercely independent until close to the end. We are grateful to the care givers that looked after Laura in her condo for the last 2 years. Daughters Joy, Sally and Rebecca will miss Laura. They take comfort in knowing that she lived to see all her girls happy and settled in their lives.
Donations in Laura’s name can be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba – Harold and Laura Richman Fund, or to the Mount Carmel Clinic.
Obituaries
RITA TRITT
March 29, 1925 – February 22, 2025
Just a month before her 100th birthday, Rita passed away peacefully with family by her side. She was the last of her generation of the large Weidman family, one of the earliest Jewish families in Winnipeg. Growing up in Winnipeg, she attended the University of Manitoba and the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from there. Rita was a very talented artist; she attended the Forum Art Institute for many, many years where she enjoyed the mentorship and camaraderie of fellow artists. She was proud of having sold several hundred pieces of her work over her time there.
Rita was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joe Tritt, in 1986. She is survived by her loving family, her children: Jacki and Sheldon Koven, Steven Tritt and Sharon Goszer Tritt; grandchildren: Lesley Koven and Eric Thomas, Mara Koven-Lapointe and Ryan Lapointe, Joseph Tritt and Shaun Castor; great-grandchildren: Ayla and Eli Thomas, and Kate Lapointe.
Funeral services were held on February 24, 2025. Rita’s family is grateful for the warm and attentive care of Sherryl and Sergio and all the staff on Weinberg 1 at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre where Rita lived for the last 3 years. If friends wish, a donation in Rita’s memory can be made to the Simkin Centre or the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
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.