Obituaries
MAX PRESSMAN
Jan. 2, 1924 – Dec. 20, 2014
On Dec. 20, 2014 at the Simkin Center, Max Pressman passed away at the age of 90.
He was predeceased by his wife , Molly, all six of his siblings and their spouses. Lovingly remembered by his children, Selma (Murray), Faye (Warren), and David (Marilyn), his grandchildren, Daniel and Greg, Hilary, Deborah (Michael) and Kayleigh. He also had two great-grandchildren, Hugo and Marcus. He will also be missed by his sister-in-law, Annette Albert and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dad was born in Winnipeg, the youngest of seven and lived his early years on Flora Ave. When he was ten years old the family moved to the farm in Grosse Isle, Manitoba. Dad finished high school in rural Manitoba and continued to farm, eventually moving into his sister and brother-in law’s home in the city and commuting daily.
He loved to sing and had a beautiful tenor voice. He started singing in various choirs, ultimately singing in the Rosh Pina Synagogue choir where he met our mom in 1953. By Dec. 27, 1953, they were married and started their family. Dad continued to make choir a priority and derived so much pleasure from it for over fifty years. He participated for many years in the Seniors Stay Young program and choir every Tuesday at the Rady Center.
He worked very hard to support his family through the tough times and then made a risky decision to buy a Sam The Record Man franchise and established the first store in Winnipeg at the Garden City Shopping Center which he ran with Mom followed by a second location at Unicity Shopping Center. This proved to be a successful endeavour.
He never had a bad word to say about anyone, a true Mensch! He was always surprised that everyone wasn’t as honest as he.
Devoted to Mom even more in the last difficult years of her life, he came daily to be with her once she entered the Simkin Center and then he joined her there in July 2011. They had an adjoining room and spent the rest of her days living together. Mom passed away Jan., 2013 and Dad became a frequent participant at all programs held at the Center. He continued to do this until he recently became too weak to attend .
The family would like to thank everyone who looked after his needs and loved him so much.
Funeral was held at Etz Chayim Synagogue with interment at Rosh Pina Cemetery officiated beautifully by Cantor Tracy Kasner Greaves. A thoughtful and loving eulogy was given by his granddaughter, Hilary Book. Pallbearers were David Pressman, Murray Gilfix, Greg Gilfix, Warren Book, David Shapera and Perry Gilfix.
Donations in his memory will be gratefully accepted at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Center, The Stay Young Program at the Rady JCC, or the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
DONALD (DON) BASS

1938-2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Donald (Don) Bass on May 14, 2025.
Don is survived by his partner of 25 years Darlene, children, Eileen Fortin (Tim) and Hartley Bass, stepchildren Pyper (Jesse) and Palmer and sister Lynda. He was also a beloved grandfather to Kelsey and Taylor and Zaidie to Rooney and Lux.
Don was predeceased by his parents Abe and Gloria Bass and by his son Jonathon.
Don was born in Fort William, Ontario in 1938. He came to Winnipeg to attend university but ultimately made his mark operating Dutchmaid Ice Cream, including manufacturing ice cream for dairies across Western Canada gaining him the title of “Emperor of Ice Cream”.
During and after operating Dutchmaid, Don also managed rental properties in and around the Osborne Village.
Don was more than an entrepreneur and an astute businessman; he was a man of decency, generosity, integrity and compassion. He treated everyone he met with respect, offering help in any way he could.
Don was also known for his sarcasm and sense of humour earning him the added title of “Real Character”.
Don loved family, he loved people, and he loved his annual trips to South Florida.
Funeral and burial were held on May 20 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery with the Meal of Condolence at Temple Shalom.
Donations can be made to the General Fund at Temple Shalom or to the Gloria and Abe Bass Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
May Don’s memory be a blessing.
Obituaries
Clarice Yentel Shell (Marantz) May 7, 1927 – May 13, 2025

Surrounded by family, our beloved Mom and Baba said goodbye at age 98. She is survived by her son Barry, and daughters Miriam and Ruth, her daughter-in-law Dorinda Neave, grandchildren Davina and Sam (Elisha) and great grandchildren, Benjamin and Rose.
Clarice, known as “Cal” was the last of her generation to leave us. She was predeceased by her parents Joe and Razel Marantz, brothers Chip (Shirley) and Basie (Shirley) and her brothers and sisters-in-law in the Shell family, Hymie (Kay), Pauline (Sam Zinman ) and Bill (Ruth). She was also predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Ben Shell and her son in law, Harry Sumner.
Born in Winnipeg, Cal was a trail blazer her entire life. She had numerous volunteer and professional achievements. One of her legacies was her ground breaking research to earn her Masters degree in Social Work in 1966. This led to Cal joining the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba where she made enduring changes to the core curriculum during her 15-year career.
Alongside her enormous contributions to the community, Cal was devoted to her large extended family. This was evidenced by her attendance at the weekly zooms and every major family event including her last visit to Winnipeg at age 97 for a very special Bat Mitzvah. She was a role model, a mentor, and a confidant to many. A skilled listener, Cal had an uncanny way of engaging others. She spoke her truth, helping to make changes and get things done. Cal knew the names and relations of the entire Shell and Marantz extended families and instead of counting sheep, she would often lie there recalling every single name, in every generation, all around the world, until she fell asleep. Her commitment to staying connected will always be remembered as one of her finest gifts.
In 2015, at age 88 Cal moved to Vancouver to be closer to her immediate family members. We thank the amazing staff and her friends at Legacy Senior Living who helped make the last 10 years of mom‘s life rich and full. We would also like to thank Dr. Alex Lecky for his years of excellent care, Colleen Riley and the gifted medical team at Vancouver General Hospital, who made her comfortable in her last days.
Cal was a remarkable person who lived a remarkable life. She will be dearly missed by the many people whose lives she touched.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, of which she was a founding member, or the Cal Shell‘s Endowment Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. More details about Cal’s life can be found on her Book of Life page
https://bookoflife.jewishfoundation.org/ebol-donors/clarice-cal-shell
Obituaries
LOUIS COLISH FEBRUARY 15, 1945 – APRIL 23, 2025

With great sadness, we announce the unexpected passing of Louis Colish at the Health Sciences Centre, surrounded by friends. He was predeceased by his parents, William (Bill) and Bessie, whom he deeply cherished. Loui considered his father to be his best friend and he was a devoted caregiver to his mother in her later years.
Born in Winnipeg on February 15, 1945, Louis grew up in Garden City. He had a long and fulfilling career as a Reference Librarian at the West Kildonan Library, where he assisted countless patrons with their questions. Even in retirement, people he would meet often recognized him as “the librarian”.
Louis cherished his relationships with his family and friends. Those who had the privilege of knowing him described him as incredibly friendly, one of their favourite people, and simply the nicest guy.
A lifelong learner, Louis treasured his extensive book collection, with a particular love for astronomy and the works of Carl Sagan. He delighted in sharing stories of his travels to Europe, Hawaii, Arizona, Disney World, and his most cherished destination, Israel. He also enjoyed attending his bowling league, the Rady JCC’s senior program, and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. He loved music from the 1940s and 50s and delighted in performing his favourite tunes in talent shows at the Rady JCC and Gwen Secter programs.
Louis was a devoted member of the Rosh Pina and Etz Chayim synagogues. Fellow congregants fondly remember his passionate and dramatic chanting of the Prayer for Peace from the bimah—a heartfelt expression of his deep hope for a peaceful world.
A graveside service was held on April 25, 2025, at Rosh Pina Memorial Park.
Louis was a kind and generous soul who will be missed but never forgotten.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login