Obituaries
MARGOT ESTHER ROSENBAUM January 18, 1925 – January 19, 2022
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother and our family matriarch who passed peacefully after a brief illness.
Margot is mourned by her son Harry Rosenbaum (Hope), daughter Ruth Stargardter (Allan), her grandchildren, Trisha (James), Michael (Jennifer), Geoffrey (Robi), Matthew and Shawn and six great-grandchildren; Ethan, Keira, Mya, Zoey, Nathan and Syeira; her brother Gilbert Walter and many nieces, nephews and their families. Mom was predeceased by our father, her loving husband, David, her brothers, Hans and Werner, sisters-in law, brothers-in-law, as well as 152 members of her family who perished in the Holocaust.
Mom was born in Berlin, Germany. She was a devoted daughter and sister. She loved many things including learning, being with friends as well as going to synagogue with her parents. Mom was especially inspired by the education she received from her mentor, Rabbi Regina Jonas, the first Jewish female Rabbi. Her life changed drastically during the reign of Adolph Hitler, beginning with being identified as a Jewish student and ridiculed and dragged out of school by her hair and forced into slave labour, at the age of 13.
During the horrors of the Holocaust Mom was blessed to meet and fall in love with our father, David. Eventually, after the war the family immigrated to Winnipeg to start a new life. They had many dreams and wishes which they were determined to fulfil together.
Our parents arrived in Canada penniless. Over the next seventy five years they worked hard to build a life that could only be described as a magical romantic fairy tale. You rarely saw one without the other. Watching them dance with that special sparkle in their eyes demonstrated their love for each other. Dad was mom’s knight in shining armor right to the very end; when his long sleep finally took away his shield. Mom had to adapt to the loss of her love and her protector.
We were mom’s shiny diamonds, sometimes to be admired from afar, to be cherished always but at times too scary to hold. We know we shone brightly in her eyes. We hope we brought her the happiness and the pride and joy she so deserved. We learned many life lessons from mom, including that to survive you must be strong and determined. The mother-daughter connection never ever faltered and never waned. This connection will never be lost.
An extra-special recognition is to be extended to her son-in-law, Allan Stargardter, for all the times he placed our mother’s needs ahead of his own. May the Lord bless him for his kindness.
Mom will be missed by family in Israel, New York, California and Germany. She will also be missed by countless close and treasured friends, co-workers who became like family and everyone privileged enough to have met her and had her in their lives.
Sorry, your daily/weekly phone calls have ended unless she can arrange for a long distance plan, but know she is watching over you and listening for the latest scoop.
Graveside services were officiated by Al Benarroch at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery with pallbearers Allan Stargardter, Robbie Waldman, and grandchildren Trisha, Michael, Geoffrey & Shawn. Honourary pallbearers were grandson Matthew Stargardter, Cantor Gerry Daien, Skye Kneller, Murray Greenfield, Allan Kiesler and James Brown. If so desired, donations in memory of our mother can be made to the Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue, Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, Humane Society of Winnipeg for the care of furry friends in need of care or a charity of choice.
Special thanks to Sandy Slonosky, Dr. K. Heinrichs, Dr. J. Johnston, Dr. J. Anang, Dr. A. Kravetsky and the staff at the Grace Hospital, for their exceptional care and compassion, and a special thank you to her adopted family at the Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue, Adeena Lungen and staff at WJCFS and friends at Gwen Secter.
Mom, we will never say good-bye because it always made you cry. Life will never be the same without you. We know you are with dad now. You will both live on in our hearts forever.
Please, all remember this proud little German girl of a Jewish upbringing who stood strong for what she believed in.
“She did it her way.”
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).