Obituaries
LUBA (KAY) CATES
Luba Cates, loving and beloved wife and mother, passed away October 20th, 2017 in Winnipeg at age 89, 9 days short of her 90th birthday.
Her husband, Theodore (Ted) predeceased her in 2006 after 56 years of marriage. Luba leaves her children Farley, Margo and Tara, daughter-in-law Lois, son-in-law Alan Roth, brother Zachariah Kay and granddaughter Zoe. Luba was the daughter of Samuel and Rose Kay.
Luba had a bigger than life presence yet was solid and grounded and believed deeply in equality and acceptance. Even though a private person, Luba had the unique ability to enter a room and connect with strangers, making them feel immediately at ease and valuable. She believed age was just a number and her mind and zest for life allowed her to bypass generations and communicate with others regardless of age and experience.
Luba’s greatest love was her husband, Ted. Together they created a foundation of family and set a table where any subject or issue could be discussed openly. They had a vibrant social life and their home was always a warm and welcoming environment. They exemplified the best of what a marriage and partnership are about: perseverance, dedication, deep love, respect, dignity and compassion.
Luba and Ted were passionately interested in exploring other cultures and in the arts – these passions were passed on to their children from an early and throughout their lives: a love for literature, music, theatre, film, travel, good conversation and thoughtful debate, humour and laughter but most importantly a will to weather life’s ups and downs with tenacity and strength.
Luba was devoted to the things in life that gave her purpose such as a lifelong love for volunteerism. She helped to establish the first pre-school daycare program in Appleton, Wisconsin, one of the first in the entire Midwest region. During her adult years, she was co-owner of an art business and an active member with Pioneer Women and the National Council for Jewish Women. In her senior years, she was devoted to the Gwen Sector Centre for Seniors, the Saturday Night Discussion Group and the Winnipeg Yiddish Group. She was dedicated to preserving family history and her commitment to celebrating Yiddish culture lead to her involvement as a translator on Arguing the Storm, a critically lauded collection of Yiddish stories. The group had the honour of receiving UNESCO’s World Treasure status.
Luba will always be remembered by family, friends and community as a woman of warmth, wit, and wisdom.
Funeral services were held October 22nd at the Chesed Shel Emes with burial at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Donations may be made to a charity of choice or to The Gwen Sector Centre (Winnipeg), Jewish Public Library (Montreal) or The Winnipeg Jewish Child and Family Services.
Obituaries
ESTHER MINUK Dec. 27, 1932 – April 3, 2026
Esther Bat Hershel Ve Devorah
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Esther Minuk, beloved matriarch of our family. She was predeceased by her bashert, her beloved husband, Julius; her parents, Doris and Harry Golub; and her sister, Evelyn (Herbie).
Esther was a loving and proud mother, Baba, and Great-Baba to her children Yale, Rhonda (Tom), Perry (Abby), Jody, and Marla (Franklin); her grandchildren Jordan (Amy), Daniel (Allie), Allie (Jordan), Hannah, and Lily; and her great-grandchildren Julian, Aidan, and Eddie.
Known to many as `Queen Esther’, she led with kindness and integrity, always seeing the good in others. Her home was open and welcoming, filled with warmth, laughter, and love. She was sharp, compassionate, and deeply devoted to her family. We are heartbroken and forever grateful for the love and legacy she leaves behind. She will be eternally missed by her family.
Memorial donations may be made to B’nai Brith of Canada Foundation, 416-633-6224, https://bit.ly/4bRsabI or Sunnybrook Foundation, 416-480-4483, www.sunnybrook.ca/foundation
Obituaries
MILTON FREEDMAN
It is with profound sadness and much love that I announce the passing of Milton Freedman on October 30th, 2025, three months after we celebrated his 100th birthday. Milton was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Peter, his older brother Sam, and his younger brother Sid, with whom he shared a very special relationship. He is survived by his wife Joanie, his sister Ruby Donner, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a great-great nephew.
Family and friends meant everything to Milton, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was gentle and kind, quiet and dignified, thoughtful and wise. He gave the best advice, but only if asked.
Milton and I liked to travel, and for many years spent the winter in Palm Springs. We also travelled to Europe and England, and felt most at home in London. We reminisced endlessly about the river cruises we went on, and the amazing places we had the opportunity to visit, whether it was having dinner at a restaurant overlooking the North Sea, or attending a private concert at a palace in Vienna, or tasting Black Forest cake especially prepared for us, while we were in Germany’s Black Forest region. It all was stunning, magical, delicious. But it was the people we met along the way, who made everything even more special, and we never forgot them.
Milton was an avid reader, inhaling newspapers, magazines, and books as if they were oxygen. Remarkably, he remembered much of what he read, and it wasn’t unusual for him to quote a passage from a book that he had read years earlier, if it was relevant to a conversation. It was not to show off…that wasn’t who he was.
Milton was a runner, and for years ran ten miles, three times a week. On the days he didn’t run, he walked outdoors for two and a half hours. Eventually, he gave up running, preferring to walk seven days a week no matter the season, no matter the weather. This continued until he was well into his 80’s. And even in his 90’s Milton remained determined to walk, at first using one cane, then two, then a walker. When he was asked, how he did it, Milton simply said, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” On occasion he might add, “And eventually you’ll get to where you’re going.”
Sage advice.
Milton is deeply missed, and will forever be remembered.
Obituaries
MARLI REBECCA SILVERMAN
Marli Rebecca Silverman passed away on March 11th at the age of 43 from end-stage renal disease. She lived her life with meaning, courage, and resilience, and touched everyone who knew her with her strength, warmth, and spirit.
She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Rylee, who was the light of her life; her father, Bruce; her brother, Matthew; Rylee’s father, Drake; and many family members and dear friends who will carry her memory forward with love.
Marli will be deeply missed and forever remembered for the impact she made on those around her.
May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in Marli’s memory may be made to Breakthrough T1D (breakthrought1d.ca).