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Obituaries

MAX LABOVITCH

max labovitchIt is with great sadness, the family of Max Labovitch mourn his passing on Sunday, January 14th, 2018, at the St Boniface Hospital, four days before his 94th birthday.

Max was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Loretta (Gold). He is survived by children, Valerie Lowenstein (Arnie) of Boston and Harriet Breslauer (Richard) of Calgary as well as grandchildren Jeremy, Daniel, Steven (Alyssa) and Kelly. He is also survived by his brother Irvin.
Max was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1924, son of Joseph and Goldie both of whom immigrated to Canada from Romania. He was one of six siblings including four brothers and two sisters. He attended the Peretz School and Isaac Newton high school in Winnipeg. Max began skating and playing hockey at the age of seven, a passion that would be with him his whole life. Max played Bantam A, Bantam B and Midget hockey with the Excelsiors before playing Juvenile hockey with the Winnipeg Rangers. In 1941, at the age of 17, Max began his professional hockey career with the New Haven Eagles of the American Hockey League before joining the New York Rangers in 1943. Max became the first Jewish Canadian-born player in the NHL.
Max played professional hockey until 1954 for the New York Rovers, the Los Angeles Ramblers and the Toledo Mercurys of the IHL, where he was captain and won the MVP. Max continued to play hockey for many years with the Manitoba old timers. His love for hockey continued till very late in life, including in-line skating until the age of 83.
Max’s athletic skills were not limited to hockey. He was an avid golfer and was the club champion at the Bakersfield Country Club in California, as well as years later at the Bel Acres Country Club in Winnipeg. He was also active in soccer, baseball and swimming as a youth.
In 1954 Max met the love of his life, Loretta Gold, at the Olympic skating rink and they were married a few months later. Max and Loretta were married for 55 years. They enjoyed dancing, playing golf and, later in life, spending winters in Las Vegas. He enjoyed spending time with his brothers and sisters and would travel to California often to see them. He also took great pride in the accomplishments of his four grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them in Calgary and Boston.
Following his hockey career, Max became the sales manager with Chilton Automotive for Western Canada. He worked with Chilton for over 40 years.
Max was an extrovert. He loved to get together with his friends for breakfast at the Salisbury House and later at the Burger King to discuss the news of the day, politics and sports. He had a very strong will, independent mind and seemed always to be at the center of the discussion. Max was very proud to be Jewish, taking pride in his heritage and ensuring that his daughters had a strong Jewish education. He was most passionate about Israel and had an insatiable interest in listening to the latest news about Israel and the region.
Max was an active member of the YMHA, Brandeis Club and B’nai B’rith for many years. This past year, he was honoured by the Rady Jewish Community Center for his achievements in hockey and sports.
Strength was the characteristic that most defined Max. He had strength of mind, body, spirit and will that was evident to all who knew him. He leaves behind a loving and devoted family who take strength from the lessons and memories of their time with Max that surely will help propel them to the next chapters of their lives.
The funeral took place at the Etz Chayim Synagogue in Winnipeg on January 16th,  with burial at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery. Pallbearers included grandsons Jeremy and Daniel Lowenstein, Steven Breslauer, sons-in-law Arnie Lowenstein and Richard Breslauer, and Lanny Jacob. Honorary pallbearers included brother Irvin Labovitch, Al Greenberg, Billy Brownstone, Manley Rusen, Frank Lavitt, Jack Nepon, Wayne Hadad, and Kroft Henrick. Max was pre-deceased by his wife Loretta, brothers Lou and Jack and sisters Rebecca and Ethel.
Many thanks to his care givers from Medox and in particular Joanne, Sid, Tom, Ed and Victor. Thank you to Dr. John Rabson, Dr. Jasmir Nayak and Dr. Piotr Czaykowski. A special thank you to Sandy Slonosly and to his good friend Lydia for their caring and concern.
Donations can be made to the to the Max Labovitch Scholarship Fund at the Rady Jewish Community Center in Winnipeg . The address is 123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3N2B3 (204-477-7510).

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Obituaries

JACOB (JACK) KLEIMAN FEBRUARY 8, 1927 – AUGUST 19, 2024

It was with great sorrow that we announced the passing of Jacob (Jack) Kleiman (Jacob ben Moishe) on Monday August 19, 2024 (16, Av) in his 98th year.
He was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Rose Kleiman, his brother, Harvey, and his sisters, Florence (the late Louis Selby), Betty (the late Joseph Gilfix) and Ruth (the late Ben Aisenstat). He is survived by his sister Ann of Bethesda, U.S.A. (the late Harold Eist). He will be missed by his many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grand-nieces, great-grandnephews, and great-grandnieces.
Jack’s maternal grandparents were among the pioneer families established in the then Hirsch Colony (founded 1892) by the Jewish Colonization Association in the Southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Jack and his late brother Harvey lived and farmed on the same land purchased by their parents in the area.
In later years he and his brother developed many business interests: initially farm implement and automotive sales and later oil exploration companies including Poplar Developments Ltd., drilling locally. They were well known in the surrounding community and were generous supporters of local charitable initiatives such as the Estevan General Hospital.
Jack and his brother were the last Jewish farmers in the Hirsch area and over the years were the subject of many literary articles and television interviews. Jack and his brother helped to maintain the Jewish cemetery in the Hirsch area until it was taken over as a historical site by the province. Due to advancing age, the family farm was sold in 2016 and both retired to Calgary to be nearer to family. This marked the closing of one chapter of Jewish history in Canada.
Jack was a talented mechanic who remained married to the land and devoted to his family. He was ever of good spirit. Although frail in body, Jack remained active mentally and involved in life until the end being always interested in the happenings of his extended family.
It is hard to adequately sum up a long life marked by both hard work, dedication to family, and good humour. The entire family remember him and honour him with love, affection, and good memories.
The family wishes to thank the many friends and neighbours in the Estevan area who provided help and support during his last years and especially to his dedicated care givers in Calgary.
The funeral was held in Calgary on August 22, 2024, at the Chevra Kadisha Chapel with interment at the 37th Street Jewish Cemetery.
The unveiling will take place on July 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM at the same location. Donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the charity of your choice.

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Obituaries

EDITH LANDY

June 30, 1920 – July 2, 2025

After a long and fulfilling life, our Mother passed on July 2, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, she grew up as part of a large extended family.

Mother was predeceased by her parents, Joseph Mayer Freiden and Rivka (nee Fordman), our father, David Landy, and her sisters Syma Katz and Jennie Rich. Edith is survived by her five children and their families: Laurie Landy and Nora Spinks, Barbara and Paul Livingston, Bob and Rhonda Landy, Mark Landy and Jenifer, and Martin Landy, her grandchildren Saralyn, Adam, Alex, Joshua, Ethan, Caitlin, David, Alicia, Lily, and six great-grandchildren, her cousins Norma Chernick and Shlomo Mayman and her many friends and relatives.

Mom grew up as part of a large extended family in the North End of Winnipeg, guided by her father’s values of service, community and the importance of family. She entered the School of Nursing at the Winnipeg General Hospital, now the Health Sciences Centre. She progressed from general duty nurse to nursing supervisor and served as the Assistant Director of Nursing for 15 years until her retirement in 1983. Over the course of her five-decade nursing career, she raised five children, managed a household, cared for many extended family members and remained actively involved in the community.

Community was a foundation of Mom’s life. Mom was very proud of her volunteering at the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Fest and other community events. She and David were patrons of the arts, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Manitoba Opera. In 2024, she was recognized as the longest continuous subscriber to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The North Centennial Seniors Association played an important role in our parents’ later years. She ran her kitchen crew, supervised Hot Dog Day and provided food for many bus trips. Mom’s legacy was the Grandma Grandpa Swim Club, which she established, raised funds for, and built into a strong organization.

After a long and remarkable life of service and giving care, Mom accepted the need to receive care. The Family would like to thank Melita and Nelissa for their care and dedication, as well as the staff of the Simkin Centre, especially on Weinberg 2.



We cannot put into words how much she will be missed.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Joseph Freiden Scholarship for Jewish Studies at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.

A service was held July 4, 2025, at Chesed Shel Emes – Winnipeg.

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Obituaries

SUSAN DIANA FRANKEL

In the kitchen above her to-do list, Susan Diana Frankel kept a comic strip of a mother bird encouraging her baby to take its first leap into flight. “Go for it!” reads the speech bubble above the mother bird. But a second bubble shows her thinking silently to herself: Just don’t go too far.

I’ve always thought that image perfectly captured our mom. She was our biggest cheerleader and greatest supporter – and out of sheer love, she wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible: Matthew and Elly, Robby and Rae, Jed and Eugenia, and our devoted dad, Harvey, her partner of 45 years. In addition to being a loving mother and spouse, she was a perfect grandmother – or “Boba” – to her three granddaughters: Romi, Esti, and Aria, whom she loved obsessively. Our mom passed away at home on June 4. She was our best friend, and to say we are devastated or that we will miss her greatly feels wholly inadequate.

Predeceased by her parents Max and Esther Weinstein and her older brother Joel (Cathie), she will forever be loved and remembered by her brothers Sidney (Grace) and Barry (Sharon), her sister Ronni (Michael), her confidante Edie (Marcel), as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends.

Susan was born the youngest of five children on February 8, 1958, in Winnipeg. The Weinstein family lived in Melville, Saskatchewan, until 1963 before settling in Winnipeg for good. She spent summers in Gimli and at BB Camp, attended both Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba (as well as spending a semester at the University of Miami while visiting her parents at their winter condo in Florida – Go Hurricanes!).

My mom married our dad, Harvey, in 1981. They were a shining example of a loving partnership – completely devoted to each other in sickness and in health. They raised us three boys to be close and family-oriented. It feels strange to reduce some of my mom’s favourite places and memories to a list, but that list would include: the family cottage in Gimli, traveling to Palm Springs, Florida, Toronto, Hawaii, Italy, and Las Vegas, shopping and dining with friends and family, playing Mahj, chatting about movies and shows, dragging my dad to social outings and making him change his outfit before they left the house, watching Winnipeg Jets games, and constantly rewatching videos of her granddaughters.

Our mom had a way of making people she’d just met feel like part of her inner circle. She was genuinely interested in what you were doing, how it was going, and how she could help. She asked questions (sometimes a few too many!) because she cared – never because she was nosy. She had a wonderful sense of humour and truly loved to laugh. When something was really funny, you’d sometimes get a snort and even a tear or two. She was simply the best.

Our family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received during this extremely difficult time. A special thank-you to the healthcare workers who gave our mom such a remarkable quality of life despite living with stage 4 cancer for more than seven years: Dr. Marshall Pitz, all the nurses and staff at CancerCare, her homecare worker Lisa, and our family’s incredible friend and caregiver, Gemma Marciano.

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