Obituaries
MIA COHEN NIMCHONOK
With great sorrow, we announce the death of our wise, beautiful, and wonderful mother, grandmother, and sister Mia Cohen Nimchonok who passed away on May 19, 2023, at St. Boniface Hospital.
Miriam, known to all as Mia, was a child of the Holocaust, born less than a month after the outbreak of WWII to Rosa and Lazar in Czernowitz, then Romania, today Ukraine. In the winter of 1942, the Romanian authorities expelled Jews who could not prove family presence in the country for the ‘previous hundred and fifty years.’ Among them were Mia, her mother, her birth father, and her grandmother Shayveh. The expelled Jews were forced across the Dniester River into the killing fields of German Nazi-occupied Poland. Along the way, Babeh Shayveh, with many others, was murdered by the Germans, and father Lazar escaped back to Romania. Arriving in the Borszczow ghetto Rosa and Mia met Moshe, the man Rosa would marry after the war and who would become Mia’s true father. When the ghetto was liquidated in the Spring of 1943, Moshe, Rosa and Mia escaped together into the surrounding forests, where they were eventually discovered by a Ukrainian peasant named Bevsky, who took them in and hid them until, with the help of a smuggler, they returned to Czernowitz. In 1944, when Moshe was in Bucharest arranging ‘illegal’ aliyah for them to Eretz Yisrael, the Red Army occupied Czernowitz, and contact with Rosa and Mia was lost. From then until 1947, Rosa and Mia survived, wandering through Romania and Hungary, and Austria ending up in a DP (displaced persons) camp in Germany. Moshe found them there and brought them to Eretz Yisrael. In 1950, after Israel’s War of Independence, the family moved to Winnipeg, joining Moshe’s sister Gusty, who had emigrated there in 1929.
Mia spent the rest of her life in Winnipeg, establishing and caring for her family. She worked for over twenty years as a caregiver at the old Sharon Home, deeply loved and cherished by residents and colleagues alike. Notwithstanding the hard times, Mia persevered and devoted endless energy to raising her children, educating them, and protecting them from the vagaries of life. She also loved animals and especially the dogs of her later years, Amanda and Mandy.
Through adversity and in better times, Mia remained the kindest, most giving, loving person, whose strength of character and goodness were the anchor for her family and a boon to all who benefitted from her friendship and acquaintance. Above all, she retained a strong sense of humour, tinged with a smidgen of irony that allowed her, quoting Shakespeare’s Hamlet, to deal with ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.’
All who knew her give thanks for having shared time with her on earth and celebrate the life of our heroine Mia’le.
Mia is survived by her children, Lenore, Rita, Fred, Sam, and his spouse Larissa; her granddaughters Taylor and Jordynn; her brother Zev, his spouse Rita and children Jonathan and Ron; and her brother Haim, his spouse Clila and children Eyal and Libbi.
Obituaries
PEARL ROSENBERG
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister on April 25, 2024 at the age of 98.
She will forever be missed by her daughter Pam Noble, sister Myrna Shiffman, and daughter-in-law Merle Rosenberg (Jerry).
She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren, Michelle Van Doeselaar (Carlo), Rick Noble (Michelle), Sari Rosenberg (Brian), Karlee Rosenberg (Josh) and her great-grandchildren, Dani, Robyn, Ryan (Ashley) and Kyle, whom she loved with all her heart.
She was predeceased by the love her life Mickey of 73 years, her beloved son Larry, her parents, Millie and Max Lerner, her in-laws, Esther and Morris Rosenberg, and her brother-in-law Frank Shiffman.
Pearl was born in Winnipeg on January 4, 1926. She devoted her heart and soul to raising her children with much love. She loved to read, knit, and spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She worked as a bookkeeper for over 50 years at the Rosh Pina gift shop, she took great pride in this.
She was instrumental in instilling the values of kindness, generosity and humility to her family, this is her legacy and it will always be remembered and followed.
Her love for her family was immeasurable and can never be replaced. She was our hero. We love you and miss you so much.
Funeral services were held at the Rosh Pina Cemetery on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Pallbearers were Rick Noble, Carlo Van Doeselaar, Sari Rosenberg, Karlee Rosenberg, Ryan Van Doeselaar, and Kyle Noble.
Donations in Pearl’s memory may be made to the Larry Rosenberg Research Fund, St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation (204-237-2067) or Etz Chayim Congregation (204-589-6305).
Obituaries
MARILYN ABOSH
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Marilyn, on April 29. Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Dave & Eva.
Left to cherish her memory are her younger brothers Allan (Leslie) and Harold (Elizabeth), niece Dory (David) her children Coleman & Ryan; nephew Paul and his children Dovid and Eden. She also leaves to mourn many cousins and extended family and friends.
Marilyn was born in Winnipeg, and grew up in the North End. Marilyn shared a home full of love and Jewish Traditions. She was a warm, kind & gentle person with a strong will & spirit that touched the lives of those who knew her. She was challenged with cerebral palsy at birth which stole her dream of becoming a nurse, however she was able to live independently on her own.
Marilyn was willing to try many things in life and her greatest joy was when she discovered the benefit of tai chi and through her 15 years of practice she became an “assistant instructor for beginners”. We were all so proud when Marilyn passed the St. John’s Ambulance First Aid Emergency Course and in 2006 was awarded the “MLA Red River Award” for the volunteer work performed at the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.
Since 2011, Marilyn found joy in helping the staff at the Saul & Claribel Simkin Center where she had resided and emerged as the “Resident Artist”. A special thanks to the staff at Weinberg 3 at the Simkin Centre who showed their kindness & compassion to Marilyn over the years.
A graveside service was held May 2, at the Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery.
We love & miss you Marilyn.
Obituaries
FAYGEE HARRIET HECHT (née YUFFE)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Faygee Hecht on April 15, 2024. Faygee was born on September 3, 1954 to parents, Louis and Elsie Yuffe. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Phil, and sister-in- law, Maddy. Left to mourn her passing are: partner, Rob Irvine; siblings, Howard Yuffe, Stephen (Randie) Yuffe, Corky (Stephen) Rosenfield, Debbie (Abe) Braverman; her nieces and nephews, Lee, Rebekah, Sharla, Lorne, Erin, Lana; the “greats”, Cayla, Hannah and Jake, Charley and Ben, Saul and Louis, Adam; Rob’s family, Rupert and Nicole (Michael, Zizza, Trevor), Victoria; extended family and friends. Whatever job or project Faygee took on, it was done 100%. Faygee was very involved at the Etz Chayim Synagogue. She was truly a “minyannaire extraordinaire”. Faygee was always worrying about others before herself. This one of a kind essence was captured in eulogies by Rabbi Rose, Rebekah and Erin and her friends, AnnaGail and Faina. Thank you. Thank you to the compassionate and caring staff of the Grace Hospital ICU. Faygee was laid to rest on April 17th at the Hebrew Sick Cemetery. Thank you to pallbearers: Sean, Lee, Gavin, Jared, Royle, Benji, Harlan and Morgan. Donations in memory of Faygee can be made to the charity of your choice.
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