Obituaries
MELVILLE NEUMAN
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Melville Neuman on April 26, 2022, at age 97.
Mel is survived by his three children, Debbie Bellan (Phil), Ralph Neuman (Miriam) Jody Adelman (David), bonus children, Debbie Shaen, Michael Shaen (Anita Mackey); his brother and sister-in- law, Hy and Lil Neuman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerry and Phyllis Arron; seven grandchildren, Marnie Bellan Garrett (Brian), Jamey Bellan (Rachel), Lane Bellan (Kate), Cara Oppenheimer (Andrew), Lauren Epstein (David) Ruel Neuman and Jenna Neuman; bonus grandchildren, Jeff Walker (Caitlin), Andrew Walker, Emma Shaen, Rachel Shaen, Laura Shaen, great-grandchildren, Melayna, Drake, Wesley, Brooke, Blake, Vail, Teddy and Sidney.
Mel was predeceased by his parents, Moses and Minnie Neuman, sister Betty Whitley, wife Ruby Neuman and second wife Shirley Shaen Neuman.
Mel was born April 4 1925 in Govan, SK. At age two he moved to Regina spending most of his childhood and adolescence there. Mel was dedicated student throughout his life even skipping a grade at one point. After high school he ran his father’s General store for a year until he joined the Air Force to become a radio mechanic. Mel enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan, receiving his B.A. and LLB, where he posted the highest marks in his faculty. He was later recognized with a Gold Medal for those achievements.
Soon after he was introduced to his first love, Ruby Arron, he enlisted in the Army Reserve who provided him a scholarship to Harvard Law School to earn his Masters of Law. After completing his masters he returned to Canada and married Ruby in 1951. They lived in Regina, where he practiced law and became a proud father of three. The Neuman family moved to Winnipeg in 1963 when he became a partner at Newman Maclean. He had a distinguished career and in 1968 was appointed a Q.C.
Mel was a loving husband, father, and later grandfather and great-grandfather. His wife Ruby died after 37 years of marriage. Mel met his second wife Shirley Shaen in 1989. They were married for 17 happy years until her death.
Mel was extremely friendly and loved to talk to everyone and anyone he came in contact with. He had a wonderful sense of humour right to the very end. He was always positive and rarely complained. Mel loved to exercise, and spent five days a week at the Rady Centre. He loved to speed walk chasing after the nearest pretty young woman.
Mel retired from Taylor McCaffrey at age 83, had a second Bar Mitzvah and learned to enjoy retirement. In 2016 he moved to Victoria and lived at Somerset Retirement Home. After his decline from Dementia he spent his last year well taken care of at Selkirk Place. Even in his final years, he was always positive. When asked how he was feeling, he replied, “Excellent”. This endeared him to everyone.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Selkirk Place for the wonderful care given to Mel in his final days.
Funeral service was held graveside at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on Friday, April 29.
Donations in Mel’s memory can be made to Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Obituaries
SOL SHLOMO TODRES
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sol (Shlomo) Todres on October 27, 2024 in Israel. Sol was born in Winnipeg in 1934 to Sam and Bessie Todres. He was a proud North Ender who graduated from St. John’s High School and received his BA and Masters in Social Work from the University of Manitoba. He was a strong believer in the power of group work and translated those beliefs in his role as the first full-time Director of Bnai Brith Camp in Kenora. Of his many innovations, his most beloved and enduring was the development of Advanced Camp for the older campers- a source of meaningful and enduring memories for many.
In 1968 he made Aliyah and settled in Kfar Saba. He earned his doctorate in Social Work from Yeshiva University. His work career included contributions to the Ministry of Welfare and Bar Ilan University.
He is survived by his loving wife Varda, his son Allon (Ortal), his daughter Naomi of Ibiza, Spain. He leaves behind his brother Rubin (Elaine), his nephews, Jesse of Toronto, Howard of Saskatoon, his nieces Lindsay of New York, and Susan of Winnipeg, and three grandchildren.
Donations in his honour can be made to Bnai Brith Camp of Winnipeg
Obituaries
BARBARA GOSZER April 15, 1930 – October 6, 2024
It is with profound sadness along with gratitude for her long and purposeful life that we announce the passing of Barbara Goszer. Left with cherished recollections are her children Sharon (Steven Tritt), Elliott (Jennifer Schulz), her grandchildren Sam (Justine), Joseph (Shaun), Nicholas, Sarah, Jack and Max, and her great-grandchildren Carson and Callie. She also leaves to mourn her passing nieces Hilda (Len), Debbie (Jack), Libby (Doug) and their families who loved their “Aunty” dearly. She was predeceased by “the love of her life”, Adam, to whom she was married for almost 60 years and by a daughter, Yonah.
Barbara was born in Lwow, Poland where she often said she had an idyllic childhood until 9 years of age, when the Second World War and the Holocaust started. She was the sole survivor of her family, having been hidden by a courageous woman whom she had honoured as The Righteous Among the Nations and whose descendants sought her out in 2013, forming a warm connection over the past decade.
Barbara was a petite but strong, opinionated, principled woman with an extraordinary sense of social justice, a remarkable work ethic, and the deepest of loyalty. She lived with intention. As a living witness to a time in history when inhumanity was at its height, she spent decades dedicated to educating school aged children and their teachers throughout Manitoba and other parts of Canada about the dangers of discrimination and intolerance of diversity. She advocated standing up for others and taking action despite fear. She also encouraged appreciation for freedom and having a roof over one’s head. Her legacy will inspire her family members as well as generations of children to make a difference in bettering the world we live in. She dreamed of a world free of hatred and of a bright future.
Thank you to Dr. Sheila Domke, her primary care physician, to the entire health care team on 4 North at Grace Hospital, and to her many caregivers in the past couple of years who treated her with the utmost of dignity and respect.
Funeral services were held graveside at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on October 8, 2024. Those wishing to honour her memory can do so by making a donation to the “Barbara and Adam Goszer Holocaust Education Centre Endowment Fund” at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
BARBARA RUTH HOCHMAN June 7, 1952 – September 16, 2024
t is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barbara Hochman on Monday, September 16, 2024. Barbara was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the first child born to Clarice and Jack Rubin. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Danny, mother Clarice, sister Jackie (Akman), brother Ron (Rubin), brother-in-law Mickey Hochman (Dorine), nephew Jared Akman (Leanne), niece Jamie Berman (Skyler) and great-nieces and nephew, Lowan, Julie, Shea and Hannah. Barb was predeceased by her father Jack Rubin and brother-in-law Richard Akman. Barbara grew up in River Heights, attending Grant Park High School, then continued her studies at the University of Manitoba. On her first day of university she met Danny and they were married two years later. Barbara began working as a secretary at the law firm Aikins, MacAulay and Thorvaldson, and then advanced to become a corporate and commercial paralegal. She returned to law school while working at AM&T, and eventually became a partner at the firm. Barbara excelled at everything she put her mind to. She was beautiful, stylish and fiercely intelligent. Barb courageously fought her first battle with cancer over 30 years ago. Since then she enjoyed life to the fullest. Barb was a loving and devoted wife, an amazing sister and an extremely generous aunt and great-aunt. She and Danny moved from Winnipeg to Kelowna 15 years ago where they escaped Winnipeg winters and saw their golf games flourish. Barbara will be greatly missed. Funeral services were held to celebrate Barbara’s life on September 20, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jared Akman, Jamie Berman, Skyler Berman, Brent Knazan, David Rubin and Danny Rubin.
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