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Obituaries

MINDEL OLENICK

Olenick Mindel edited 1After a prolonged period of poor health, Mindel (Rady) Olenick passed away at home in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Monday, March 29, 2021, at the age of 96.

She is survived by: her daughters and sons-in-law Gail and Arne Wagner of Piedmont, CA, Debby and Brian Hirsch of Winnipeg, and Roberta Olenick of Vancouver; her grandchildren Laura Wagner (Seth LeJacq), Moshe (Chani) Hirsch and Aron Hirsch; and her six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by: her sister Marjorie Blankstein, her brother Ernest (Evelyn) Rady, her sister-in-law Bess Plosker; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver, San Diego and Hawaii. She was predeceased in 2007 by her beloved spouse of almost 60 years, Tom. She was also predeceased by: her parents Rose and Max Rady; her parents-in-law Anna and Zalman Olenick; and her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Morley Blankstein, Eva and Max Natch, Edel Direnfeld and Max Plosker.

Mindel was born in Winnipeg on October 8, 1924, the oldest child of Rose and Max Rady. She had a brilliant mind and excelled at school. She graduated from Kelvin High at the top of her class and was school valedictorian. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba followed by a year of work in microbiology at the Banting Institute in Toronto. She returned to Winnipeg where, on June 11, 1947, she married Tom Olenick, who had proposed to her a few years earlier on their very first date.
The most important things to Mindel were her husband and three daughters and then later on, her sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well. She always wanted for them whatever they truly wanted for themselves and selflessly supported them in whatever way she could. Without ever expecting or wanting anything in return, she was always there in every way, not only for her immediate family, but also for her extended family and friends. She was much loved by everyone for her wisdom and her warmth.

Through both word and especially deed, Mindel taught her children the importance of compassion and empathy. She was always able to see things from the perspective of others and thus treated everyone with kindness and respect. She exemplified diligence, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, reliability and above all, keeping your word. If she said she would do something, you could count on her to do it without fail.
Characteristic of Mindel was her unwavering positive outlook on life. She was truly content with herself and her circumstances. More than once she said, “I know people who keep wishing they were younger than they are. Not me – I have always liked whatever age I am right now.” (Though in her early 90s she did admit to wishing to be 85 again because she was still able to drive then.) She always looked for the best in any situation and believed that things would work out. If not, she knew she could handle it. With her calm confidence and clear perspective, she was unflappable!

Mindel was a generous supporter of a wide variety of causes including: Israel and the Jewish community, medical research and education, and environmental issues. She funded the first hospital building of her daughter Gail’s project providing medical care in rural Kenya.
Mindel Olenick was truly an exceptional person. Her passing has left a void in the lives of all those she touched. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to the team from HomeInstead for their tireless, loving care of Mindel, making it possible for her to remain at home until her very last day. We extend particular thanks to those who were with her the longest: Edna, Rosemarie, Jessielyn and Dolores.
A private graveside service was held on March 31, 2021 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. Pallbearers were: Brian Hirsch, Sydney O’Bray and David Salita. Pallbearers in absentia (due to Covid) were: Arne Wagner, Laura Wagner, Moshe Hirsch, Aron Hirsch, Alan Direnfeld, Gary Direnfeld and Donald Rady. Honorary pallbearers were: Marjorie Blankstein, Ernest and Evelyn Rady, Bess Plosker, Bryan Natch, Barry Tessler, Arlene Wall, Gloria Mendelson and Milton and Brenda Tenenbein.
Donations in Mindel’s memory can be made to Technion Canada (Suite 206-970 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6A 3B6, Tel 416-789-4545) or to a charity of your choice.

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Obituaries

YHETTA MIRIAM GOLDCM, OM, BA

September 3, 1929 – April 25, 2025

Yhetta passed away at home on her own terms.

As per her wishes, there will be no service.

The family would like to thank Realcare Inc, particularly Kristina, Ana, Agrima and Chantal for their compassion and expertise.

For those that would like to make a donation in her memory, please consider a gift to the Yhetta Gold Campership Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3N 2B4, jewishfoundation.org, or to a charity of your choice.

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Obituaries

SALLY ANN NARR

Sally Ann Narr, born September 5, 1935, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at the age of 89.

Sally was born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, and attended William Whyte school and later St. John’s Tech. At 18 years old, Sally bravely made the decision to leave her family and friends in Winnipeg, and head to Los Angeles, California where she hoped to pursue a career in Hollywood. After arriving in LA, Sally got a job working at Farmer’s Insurance, until she landed her dream job at Capitol Records at Hollywood and Vine.

Sally absolutely loved her job at Capitol Records and often found herself partying with some of the most famous celebrities.

At a New Year’s Eve party in 1958, Sally met the love of her life, Frank, and they were married the following year on December 12, 1959. Sally and Frank were married for 65 years and were overjoyed when they welcomed their daughter, Heather on October 1, 1965. It was in 1969, some years after the Watts Riot in LA that Sally and Frank made the decision to leave LA and return to Winnipeg to raise their daughter. Once back in Winnipeg, Sally and Frank resided in the West Kildonan area for 43 years until they bought a condo and moved to the south end of the city to be close to their daughter and grandchildren.

Sally lived a full and rich life. Some of her fondest memories were going on a Caribbean cruise for hers and Frank’s 50th wedding anniversary with her family, going to Hawaii for her 80th birthday, and attending her granddaughter’s wedding in 2019. Beyond all of this, Sally’s greatest joy in life was when her two grandchildren were born. She was overjoyed to become a grandmother and said it was the best job in the world.

It was shortly after the arrival of her first great-granddaughter in 2022 that Sally became a resident of the Simkin Centre, a place she would call home for almost three years until her passing. The staff treated her with the utmost care and respect and helped guide her family through her battle with Alzheimers and in the last few months of her life, cancer.

Sally’s quality of life would not have been what it was if it was not for her devoted caregiver, Oxana. From 2020 to 2025, Oxana provided wonderful care for Sally through her compassion and dedication and love for both Sally and Frank. There are not enough ways to thank Oxana for everything she did for Sally and her entire family over their five years together.

Sally was predeceased by her parents, Ann and Nicholas Dutkevich and is survived by her husband, Frank Narr, her daughter Heather Cantor (Ed), granddaughter, Lexi Cantor (Dan Robillard), her grandson Ryan Cantor, great-granddaughters, Parker and Blake and her brother Joey Dutkevich (Karen).

The family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer Association or the Simkin Centre in honour of Sally.

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Obituaries

DR. ROBERT CORNE

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Robert Corne on February 5, 2025.

Dr. Corne was married to Irene (née Genser), for 66 years; father of Lesley Corne Wolman, (spouse-Jeff Wolman), Janet Corne, (spouse-Michael Katz), Maureen Slama, (spouse-Avi Slama), and Eric Corne, (spouse-Aimee Corne).

Grandfather of Ariel Slama, Yale Wolman (spouse-Ashlie Sapiro), Serena Wolman, Liav Slama, Neeve Slama, Ira Corne and Lilly Corne.

Born in 1936 in Winnipeg, Robert was the only child Hy and Yhetta Corne. He attended both River Heights Elementary School and Kelvin High School. He entered University of Manitoba Medical School at the age of 18, winning the Ibsen scholarship. He married Irene Genser in 1958.

In 1960, Robert, Irene, and daughter Lesley, moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Robert was a Fellow in Internal Medicine (1960-63) and a Fellow in Cardiology (1963-64) at the Mayo Clinic. Robert’s research interest was in cardiac pathology and in 1964 he received a Master’s in Science from the University of Minnesota. In1964 the young family, now including daughters, Janet and Maureen, moved to San Francisco where Robert spent a year at the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco. Robert became a fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a Diplomat of American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Cardiology.

The family returned to Winnipeg in 1965 and Robert joined his uncle, Dr. Norman Corne and Dr. Mossy Lehmann in private practice for three years. In 1968, he joined the Faculty of Medicine in the department of Cardiology at University of Manitoba. For several years he worked with Dr. Frank Matthewson in a natural history study of cardiac disease in Canadian Air Force pilots whom they followed for over 30 years. Robert also pursued a special interest in heart disease in women.

In 1977 Robert was appointed as The Lady Davis Professor of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the family, now including son, Eric, moved to Israel for the year. where Robert opened the department of Nuclear Cardiology at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. He was privileged to take part in the first heart scan in Israel and participated in a cardiac evaluation of Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

The Corne family returned to Winnipeg in 1978, and Robert became the co-Director of Nuclear Cardiology and Director of Cardiac Ambulatory Care at Health Sciences Center. Teaching was an exciting and rewarding part of his academic life, and he became a full Professor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. His research has been published in both the American Heart Journal and The American Journal of Cardiology.

Robert’s volunteer commitments included a seat on the Board of the Winnipeg Chapter of Hebrew University and was instrumental in launching the Academic Affairs Initiative. He was the Governor of the Prairie Provinces of American College of Cardiology, a councilor of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and a Member of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association.

Despite his overwhelmingly numerous academic and professional achievements, he would say that his greatest accomplishment was his family: his four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and sixty-six-year marriage to his beloved wife, Irene. He was a loving and caring husband, an exceptionally devoted father and an interested and involved grandfather who shared a unique relationship with each of his children and grandchildren. He was a loyal friend to many and a trusted colleague to all who worked alongside him.

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