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Obituaries

LAURIE (ALI) MAINSTER

LAURIE MAINSTERFamily and friends of Laurie Mainster are deeply saddened by his passing on Monday, April 8, 2019.


Beloved son of Arthur and Fannie, the youngest of six children, Laurie is survived by daughter Gail Mainster, son-in-law Harold Gutovich and grandson Jay Gutovich (Sara); son Samuel Mainster; son-in-law Viktor Lewin; granddaughter Brianne Lewin, partner Chris Schwab and great-grandson Abraham; grandson Eli Lewin; great grandaughters Reah Shine Cheryl and Zoey Riley Dawn Lewin, and numerous loving nieces, nephews and other extended family members and friends. Laurie was predeceased by his daughter, Cheryl Lewin, on January 19, 2010 and his wife Bernice (Bayla, née Claman) of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 9, 2017.

Laurie was born in Winnipeg on September 18, 1925. He attended the I.L. Peretz Folk School and graduated from St. John’s Tech High School, where he was a popular athlete and renowned for his hard work, even as a  child, delivering newspapers. He served in the RCAF during the Second World War as a wireless operator, leaving with the rank of sergeant. Laurie married Bernice on November 27, 1948 and was married to her for more than 68 years. Laurie started his career selling advertising for the Winnipeg Free Press Weekly Farmer, followed by positions with J.J. Gibbons Ltd. and other agencies until he joined Foster Advertising Ltd. as Winnipeg manager in 1962. While with Foster, he helped organize The Spirit of ‘70 centennial celebrations for the Province of Manitoba and made Foster the agency of record for the province’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. He was also an advisor to the late Dufferin “Duff” Roblin during Roblin’s tenure as Manitoba premier from 1958 to 1967. After leaving Foster in 1986 as Executive Vice President overseeing operations for all of Western Canada, Laurie continued to run his own agency, Laurie A. Mainster Advertising Ltd.

Laurie was known for his overwhelming efforts for the betterment of all levels of his community. He participated actively in promoting his city and province and donated much of his time on behalf of charitable and not-for-profit causes. His notable positions included: Director, City of Winnipeg Library Foundation; all offices up to and including President of the Central Canadian Council of B’nai Brith; President and member of the Board of Governors, I.L. Peretz Folk School; President and member of Executive/Board of Directors, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre; President, Rosh Pina Synagogue; Marketing/Public Relations Chairman, Asper Jewish Community Campus of Winnipeg Capital Building Campaign; President, Rainbow Stage Productions; Chair, I.L. Peretz Folk School 90th Anniversary Reunion, Aug.1-4, 2003; and co-producer, Mameloshen: Festival of Yiddish Entertainment and Culture. Laurie was also a member of the following organizations: Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Health Sciences Centre Foundation; Jewish National Fund Board of Directors; Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Board of Governors; Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Board of Directors; Canadian Friends of Hebrew University; Canadian Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev Board of Governors; Congregation Etz Chayim; Variety Club of Winnipeg; Winnipeg Football Club Board of Directors; Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation; Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors; General Monash Branch Royal Canadian Legion; and Canadian Associates of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Laurie’s many community service awards included the Advertising Association of Winnipeg 1993 Director’s Award; Honorary Directorate from the Health Sciences Centre Foundation; plaque in honour of his efforts in the The Spirit of ’70 Campaign, Province of Manitoba; recognition of his work producing the official opening program for the Winnipeg Convention Centre in 1975; certificates of appreciation from the City of Winnipeg “For his selfless dedication and outstanding contribution to the success of Rainbow Stage” and from the Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation; certificate in recognition of his “…years of leadership and dedication in support of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada”; the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council Shem Tov Award in 1997 for his role as marketing/public relations chair for the Asper Jewish Community Campus; Special Community Award from State of Israel Bonds in celebration of Israel’s 50th Anniversary in 1998; special tribute in 2000 from the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba in recognition of “30 Years in the Life of the Community” and 30 years of volunteer service to the Foundation; and 2014 Shem Tov Award on behalf of the Rady Jewish Community Centre. He was a key fundraiser and organizer for the I. L. Peretz Folk School Yiddish Teaching Fellowship at the University of Manitoba and was active in organizing the Hebrew Congregation of Winnipeg Beach, a popular Saturday morning synagogue for many Jewish Winnipeggers.

Funeral services were held at Congregation Etz Chaim on Wednesday, April 10 and graveside at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery, led by Cantor Tracy Kasner Greaves. Pallbearers were Harold Gutovich, Shalom Coodin, Sheppy Coodin, Chaim Raber, David Coodin and Bernie Sucharov. Honorary pallbearers were Viktor Lewin, Chris Schwab, Dvora and Marshall Braunstein and Joel Dudeck. Thank you to everyone at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre and especially to Marilyn Roldan and other caregivers and staff from Friendly Caregiver’s Senior’s Care. Donations to honour Laurie can be made to the Bayla and Laurie Mainster Family Trust and the Laurie Mainster Community Visionary Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.

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Obituaries

SALLY ANN NARR

Sally Ann Narr, born September 5, 1935, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at the age of 89.

Sally was born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, and attended William Whyte school and later St. John’s Tech. At 18 years old, Sally bravely made the decision to leave her family and friends in Winnipeg, and head to Los Angeles, California where she hoped to pursue a career in Hollywood. After arriving in LA, Sally got a job working at Farmer’s Insurance, until she landed her dream job at Capitol Records at Hollywood and Vine.

Sally absolutely loved her job at Capitol Records and often found herself partying with some of the most famous celebrities.

At a New Year’s Eve party in 1958, Sally met the love of her life, Frank, and they were married the following year on December 12, 1959. Sally and Frank were married for 65 years and were overjoyed when they welcomed their daughter, Heather on October 1, 1965. It was in 1969, some years after the Watts Riot in LA that Sally and Frank made the decision to leave LA and return to Winnipeg to raise their daughter. Once back in Winnipeg, Sally and Frank resided in the West Kildonan area for 43 years until they bought a condo and moved to the south end of the city to be close to their daughter and grandchildren.

Sally lived a full and rich life. Some of her fondest memories were going on a Caribbean cruise for hers and Frank’s 50th wedding anniversary with her family, going to Hawaii for her 80th birthday, and attending her granddaughter’s wedding in 2019. Beyond all of this, Sally’s greatest joy in life was when her two grandchildren were born. She was overjoyed to become a grandmother and said it was the best job in the world.

It was shortly after the arrival of her first great-granddaughter in 2022 that Sally became a resident of the Simkin Centre, a place she would call home for almost three years until her passing. The staff treated her with the utmost care and respect and helped guide her family through her battle with Alzheimers and in the last few months of her life, cancer.

Sally’s quality of life would not have been what it was if it was not for her devoted caregiver, Oxana. From 2020 to 2025, Oxana provided wonderful care for Sally through her compassion and dedication and love for both Sally and Frank. There are not enough ways to thank Oxana for everything she did for Sally and her entire family over their five years together.

Sally was predeceased by her parents, Ann and Nicholas Dutkevich and is survived by her husband, Frank Narr, her daughter Heather Cantor (Ed), granddaughter, Lexi Cantor (Dan Robillard), her grandson Ryan Cantor, great-granddaughters, Parker and Blake and her brother Joey Dutkevich (Karen).

The family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer Association or the Simkin Centre in honour of Sally.

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Obituaries

DR. ROBERT CORNE

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Robert Corne on February 5, 2025.

Dr. Corne was married to Irene (née Genser), for 66 years; father of Lesley Corne Wolman, (spouse-Jeff Wolman), Janet Corne, (spouse-Michael Katz), Maureen Slama, (spouse-Avi Slama), and Eric Corne, (spouse-Aimee Corne).

Grandfather of Ariel Slama, Yale Wolman (spouse-Ashlie Sapiro), Serena Wolman, Liav Slama, Neeve Slama, Ira Corne and Lilly Corne.

Born in 1936 in Winnipeg, Robert was the only child Hy and Yhetta Corne. He attended both River Heights Elementary School and Kelvin High School. He entered University of Manitoba Medical School at the age of 18, winning the Ibsen scholarship. He married Irene Genser in 1958.

In 1960, Robert, Irene, and daughter Lesley, moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Robert was a Fellow in Internal Medicine (1960-63) and a Fellow in Cardiology (1963-64) at the Mayo Clinic. Robert’s research interest was in cardiac pathology and in 1964 he received a Master’s in Science from the University of Minnesota. In1964 the young family, now including daughters, Janet and Maureen, moved to San Francisco where Robert spent a year at the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco. Robert became a fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a Diplomat of American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Cardiology.

The family returned to Winnipeg in 1965 and Robert joined his uncle, Dr. Norman Corne and Dr. Mossy Lehmann in private practice for three years. In 1968, he joined the Faculty of Medicine in the department of Cardiology at University of Manitoba. For several years he worked with Dr. Frank Matthewson in a natural history study of cardiac disease in Canadian Air Force pilots whom they followed for over 30 years. Robert also pursued a special interest in heart disease in women.

In 1977 Robert was appointed as The Lady Davis Professor of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the family, now including son, Eric, moved to Israel for the year. where Robert opened the department of Nuclear Cardiology at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. He was privileged to take part in the first heart scan in Israel and participated in a cardiac evaluation of Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

The Corne family returned to Winnipeg in 1978, and Robert became the co-Director of Nuclear Cardiology and Director of Cardiac Ambulatory Care at Health Sciences Center. Teaching was an exciting and rewarding part of his academic life, and he became a full Professor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. His research has been published in both the American Heart Journal and The American Journal of Cardiology.

Robert’s volunteer commitments included a seat on the Board of the Winnipeg Chapter of Hebrew University and was instrumental in launching the Academic Affairs Initiative. He was the Governor of the Prairie Provinces of American College of Cardiology, a councilor of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and a Member of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association.

Despite his overwhelmingly numerous academic and professional achievements, he would say that his greatest accomplishment was his family: his four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and sixty-six-year marriage to his beloved wife, Irene. He was a loving and caring husband, an exceptionally devoted father and an interested and involved grandfather who shared a unique relationship with each of his children and grandchildren. He was a loyal friend to many and a trusted colleague to all who worked alongside him.

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Obituaries

EARL (ARIE) PERLMUTTER

We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and cousin Arie Perlmutter at the age of 77. Arie died peacefully after a brief but difficult struggle with cancer on April 12, 2025.

He was predeceased by his parents, Hymie and Thelma and by his beloved sister Sheila.

Arie developed and maintained many close friends throughout his life. He attended St. John’s High in the 60s and kept in touch with many of his classmates. He began his working life as a delivery driver for City Bread. This was followed by a career of over 20 years at Advance Electronics, where he was a well-respected and expert sales associate. He hung out at North End Sals, for virtually his entire life, discussing (arguing? kibitzing?) with many people too numerous to name, the issues of the day but especially about sports, and most especially about baseball.

In his retired life, he was a member of Larters Golf Club, golfing with much enthusiasm and passion, if not prowess. Arie donated to and volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society for many years.

His family and friends would like to thank the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital whose compassionate and caring attention to Arie in his final days was truly a great comfort to him.

In keeping with Arie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral will be held.

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