Obituaries
LESLIE S. LITMAN 1936 – 2023
eacefully, at the Simkin Centre, Leslie Litman passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, with his family nearby. Burial was at the B’nay Abraham Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to his mother and father, Gertie and Peter Litman. Pallbearers at his funeral were Lorry Litman, James Litman, Ethan Morantz, Sean Morantz, Jeremy Morantz, and Michael Litman. Honorary pallbearers were Richard Morantz, Marty Morantz, and Harvey Turbovsky.
Leslie had a long and successful career as a Chartered Accountant. He was highly respected by his clients and his colleagues at KPMG, where he was a partner for many years.
A kind, gentle, and charming man, Leslie was a good neighbor and friend. He was always dependable and ready to help others. He believed in the importance of volunteering and doing good in the community. He was a member of the board of the B’nay Abraham Synagogue, and served as its president. He was a longtime member of the Masons, serving as the Treasurer for several years. He was also a founding member of the FortWhyte Centre. Leslie was like a country doctor. He made house calls to his elderly clients to do their taxes and was available to them as needed. They showed their appreciation by sending him home with home-baked pastries.
Leslie and his wife, Carol, enjoyed travelling in their RV around Canada and the United States. They later spent their summers in their RV at the campground in Gimli, Manitoba, where many longtime friends also had trailers and where Leslie’s two favorite pastimes were fishing and socializing. Ardent fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he and Carol had season tickets for a number of years. Leslie loved Tai Chi and was dedicated to its practice for many years. In his 70s Leslie learned how to play the flute. He loved playing the flute; he enjoyed his weekly flute lessons with his teacher, Monica, and looked forward to participating in the annual recital she held for her students. Most of all, Leslie adored his forever furry friends, first Charlie and then Tao. Three times a day, every day, he took his dog out for a walk. He would encounter neighbors and stop and chat. He and Charlie and Tao were well loved in the neighborhood.
Leslie was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Gertie Litman; his in-laws, Lorry and Shirley Turbovsky; his daughter, Kathy Robin Litman; his son, Michael Richard Seth Litman; and his sister, Pearl Morantz; as well as his dogs, Charlie and Tao. Left to mourn him are Carol Litman, his wife of 52 years; his children Lorry Litman, James Litman, Nancy Litman, and Maureen Litman; his grandson Michael Litman; his sister Judy Diamond, and his many friends and relatives.
The family would like to thank Dr. Phil Garber, Leslie’s cardiologist, for his many years of caring for Leslie. They would also like to thank all the staff of the Palliative Care ward at the St. Boniface Hospital for their exceptional care during the two and a half months Leslie was there as well as the St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Team and the staff of Weinberg 2 at the Simkin Centre for their care in Leslie’s final days.
May his name be a blessing and the memory of his life remain a cherished legacy to all who knew him.
Contributions in Leslie’s memory can be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society, the MS Society of Canada, or to a charity of your choice.
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.
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.
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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