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.