Obituaries
LAURANE SCHULTZ
We sadly announce the passing of our beloved mother, Laurane Schultz, on January 25, 2020.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Albert; parents Anna and Louis Greenberg; sisters Esther Goodman and Sylvia Struzer, daughter-in-law Anna, and cherished family members.
She is survived by her children Erica (Phil Denomme), Lois, Victor and Myron (Elana) and granddaughters Dafna, Abbie and Liat. She will also be greatly missed by sisters-in-law Alice Halprin and Sally Shuckett; her sisters’ daughters Roberta Goodman, Pam Stelcner and Lisa Ohayon; her dear nieces and nephews; her grand-parenting partners, Serky and Ben Goldberg; and many wonderful friends.
Born May 14,1926, she was the golden-haired youngest of three. Her parents were immigrants who settled in Regina before moving the family to Winnipeg’s North End in 1929. Her father was a Hebrew School teacher, her mother a homemaker who performed in Winnipeg’s Jewish Theatre. They imparted strong values of social consciousness which she carried throughout her life.
As a young child she was recognized as a piano prodigy and learned much of the most difficult repertoire by ear before she could read music. She went on to win many awards and scholarships and had her own weekly radio show on CBC. She had fond memories of playing for the troops in Carberry and accompanying the Gilbert and Sullivan productions at St. John’s High School.
In her late teens, she left to study piano in Montreal, continuing at Juilliard in New York with Joseph Raieff and in California with Soulima Stravinsky. Reflecting back, she said that the greatest piano teacher she had ever worked with was here in Winnipeg, the late John Melnyk.
On one of her visits home, our parents were introduced by a mutual friend who knew of their shared love of music. They married on December 20, 1951 and a budding concert career was happily set aside for a wonderful life as inarguably the world’s most cherished wife and mother.
Her love and knowledge of music was at the core of her soul, and we literally learned music at her feet, lying underneath her treasured grand piano as she taught and played. As our own talents emerged, she devoted herself to developing them to their greatest potential.
Throughout her life she was also a marvelous cook and hostess. Her baking was unsurpassed, her fried chicken could have built an empire. Her presentation of food from the simplest sandwich to the fanciest torte was as wonderful as the taste, and brought her great satisfaction.
Our mother also helped our father in business as a sounding board for marketing and developing products, working at trade shows across North America and helping in the retail store – the Wonderful World of Sheepskin. She loved visiting with the staff at the company’s annual Christmas party where she was always treated with great affection and respect.
As a young family we enjoyed wonderful trips to Grand Forks, Bemidji and Grand Beach, and later to Florida, Las Vegas, Maui, and the Caribbean. In retirement, our parents cruised the world and then fully embraced the Snowbird life at their home in Palm Springs, which became our favorite place to spend time together, with beloved spouses, partners, and grandchildren now added to the family.
Her granddaughters brought tremendous joy to her life. She followed their interests and activities with great pride and was so pleased that music was a part of their well-rounded lives. She was fascinated by their discussions about environmentalism and their understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.
Though nearly ninety-four, our mother retained her youthfulness, beauty, grace, intelligence and vitality. Her strength upon losing our father in 2013 was an inspiration and we did everything in our power to ensure she continued to live the best life possible. We loved spending time with her sharing meals, talking, playing cards, travelling, getting together with friends, or just watching TV. She was a voracious reader, a Scrabble and crossword expert, and a very talented sculptor. She continued to practice the piano daily, and still played beautifully. She was a political news junkie, always up on pop culture, and in recent years a devoted Jets fan.
We are thankful to her physician and friend Dr. Wayne Manishen and his colleague Dr. Dana Moffat; to Leona, Lettie and Dolores who assisted her in her home and treated her like a queen; to the gatekeepers at 141 Wellington Crescent, especially Chris, Hans, Randy and Tony; and to Drs. Jean Prenovault and Bruce Martin and the staff at Victoria General Hospital 4 North for their care and kindness.
Our mother was our comfort, our friend, our guide and our biggest supporter. All who knew her will miss her beautiful smile, humor, wisdom, kindness and gentle spirit. While our loss is beyond profound, what we had was so extraordinary, the only word that truly applies to us is Blessed.
Services were held Tuesday, January 28 at Congregation Etz Chayim officiated by Rabbi Kliel Rose and Cantor Tracy Kasner.
The eulogy was lovingly delivered on our behalf by David Weinberg.
Pallbearers were Jason Cristall, Allan Keisler, Daniel Koulack, The Honourable Shane Perlmutter, Kinzey Posen and Steven Raber.
Honorary Pallbearers were Melvyn Pollins and Richard Yaffe.
Donations in her memory can be made to The Canadian Music Competition/Winnipeg Chapter at www.cmcnational.com or to any organization serving Winnipeg’s homeless.
Obituaries
TEDDY MULLER
In the early hours of September 29, 2025, holding the hands of his beloved daughter and granddaughter, Teddy quietly passed away just weeks before his 100th birthday. His passing coincided with the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest of days, a sign of how honourably Teddy lived his life.
Teddy was born October 25 to his loving parents, Shlomo and Luisa in Balavasar, Romania and remained proud of his Transylvanian roots. He enjoyed a happy childhood with his older siblings, Lola and Zoli. Life drastically changed with the onset of the war. Teddy was forced into a slave labour camp while his siblings and mother were taken to concentration camps. His mother was murdered the day before liberation at Auschwitz, something that haunted him the rest of his life. Teddy’s entire testimony of the brutality that he endured is documented in the Steven Spielberg Shoah Foundation archive.
In the Fall of 1947, Teddy arrived in Winnipeg and within 24 hours was working as an upholsterer and didn’t stop until he was 88 years old. Along the way he was introduced to his beautiful Marie. They were married in 1950 during the flood and spent nearly 70 years together. Two young Holocaust survivors, with a mutual understanding of persecution and loss, began to build their lives together. They built a family with a strong and loving foundation. Their business, Art Upholstering, was built on honesty, respect and a commitment to craftsmanship. Teddy was always proud of the homes he had furnished and the connections he made with his customers. He was especially proud of restoring historical furnishings from Parks Canada. Teddy never had to take out an ad as his sterling reputation spoke for itself. Teddy had golden hands that crafted high quality showcases of his trade and artisanship. The same resilience that brought him through the war, brought him through a devastating fire where no arsonist was going to dictate his future. With the help of Fred and Cynthia Brick, Teddy rebuilt Art Upholstering from the ashes.
Family and friends were the most important things to Teddy. To know him was to love him. His charismatic and engaging personality left lasting impressions. His historical aptitude made him a force to be reckoned with in any debate.
Teddy revelled in the successes of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They were the world to him. He took his role as patriarch to heart. His support and love for his family was unconditional. He especially rose to the role of Zaidie and great-Zaidie Teddy Bear. He was a giver and never asked for much. Sitting on his deck, surrounded by his plants and apple tree filled his heart and soul.
Aging in his home was very important to Teddy. The compassionate care of Erlyn, his Joy, Timmalee, Adeena, Rose, Johnny and Marty was instrumental in maintaining Teddy’s dignity and independence and fulfilling his wish. Teddy’s quality of life was maintained thanks to the dedication of Dr. Brenda Hildebrand and her caring team. Regular visits from Chris, Gail, Alex, Allan and Emily kept Teddy engaged and stimulated.
Teddy was predeceased by his beautiful wife, Marie, his devoted son-in-law, Marshall, and granddaughter Jada. He is survived by his beloved daughter Laya, cherished grandchildren, Kyle (Carol), Gabi (Benji) and Skye (Cam), treasured great-grandchildren Alex, Maddy, Mavis, Mickey and Dori, as well as his son Marvin, and loving granddaughters Ilana and Timna.
Donations may be made to the Marshall S. Kneller Memorial Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or any organization supporting Israel, a cause near and dear to Teddy’s heart.
Obituaries
RUTH KLAPMAN December 20, 1929 – September 24, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, Ruth Klapman.
Ruth lived a full life surrounded by family and friends. She was devoted to her late husband, Sam, her partner for 68 years. Together, they brought joy to every gathering-always the first to dance and the last to say goodbye.
Ruth was deeply committed to volunteer work. She gave her time to organizations including Hadassah, ORT, the National Council of Jewish Women, Pioneer Women, and the Women’s Endowment Fund. She chaired the ORT thrift store for 14 years, and she sang in Israel as a member of the Rosh Pina Synagogue Choir.
Ruth spent every summer at Winnipeg Beach, sharing komish and other treats with generations of neighbourhood children who would visit the cottage throughout the day. She was everybody’s ‘Bubbie’. Winters were spent in Palm Springs, welcoming her children and grandchildren for fun in the sun.
Ruth was a true party person who loved spending time with friends and hosting family gatherings. Her home was a place where people came together to share meals, stories, and laughter. She enjoyed travelling the world and never refusing an invitation, no matter where it was.
Mother to Sandi (Sam Malamud), Marla Bernstein, Hartley (Drew Salter), and Jody (Brian Goldberg); grandmother to Andrew (Hilary), Allan (Alona), Aaron (Alanna), Jason (Lindsay), Steven (Alexis), Dana (Tom), Brady (Matt), Carly (Jay), Hanna (Gaby), and Kevin (Ilana).
Great-grandmother to Florie, Stan, Juniper, Angus, Isaac, Otto, Cole, Chase, Charlotte, Rory, Mason, and Romi; sister-in-law to Sandy Youssiem; Auntie Ruthie to many nieces and nephews.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband Sam, her parents Reuben and Rose Youssiem, and her brother Saul Youssiem.
A special thank you to Marivel Toledo for her many years of care and dedication, and to Lorna Allen and Fabi Patriarca for their great support.
Thank you to Rabbi Matthew Leibl for officiating the funeral service, which took place on September 26, 2025, at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ruth and Sam Klapman Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 204-477-7520.
Obituaries
JEROME AVERY
April 2, 1945 – September 11, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jerome Avery, who passed away with his family by his side on September 11, 2025, at the age of 80.
Jerome was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Allan and Diane Avery. He was married to the love of his life, Karen, for 46 years, until her passing. Jerome was blessed to find love and companionship again with Sergia, who he cared deeply for.
Jerome treasured being “Zaida” to his grandchildren, Danica, Alexis, and Nathan. Jerome is survived by his loving children, Robyn (Don) and Tammy (Chris); his grandchildren Danica (Benny), Alexis (Brett), and Nathan; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Karen, his parents Allan and Diane Avery, and his in-laws Nathan and Rose Sarbit.
His smile lit up a room bringing joy and comfort to all who knew him.