Obituaries
PHYLLIS DEAN BOXER
With great sadness we announce the passing of Phyllis Boxer, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. Phyllis passed away peacefully at the Heath Sciences Centre at age 93 on September 3rd, 2019.
Phyllis will be sadly missed by her loving family: Irene Boxer-Meyrowitz & Dr. David Meyrowitz (daughter & son-in-law), Jody Boxer-Leslie (grandson), Elana & Jonathan Waldman (granddaughter & grandson-in-law), Kaia Waldman (great granddaughter), Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz (grandson), and her devoted sister, Cornelia Little.
The funeral was held at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, Friday, September 6th, 2019.
Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Sylvia (Granovsky) and David Wolfe, her daughter Jackie, her husband Albert, and her brother Dr. Allen Wolfe.
Phyllis was born in Winnipeg in 1926, into a Russian-Jewish immigrant family. She was a middle child, with an older brother (Allen) and a younger sister (Cornelia). Phyllis grew up in Crescentwood. They were one of a handful of Jewish families living in south Winnipeg. Her Jewish roots were keenly felt.
She was an introvert, in a large extended eastern European family clan of extroverts. She was a free spirit, with an internal softness, yet a strong core like a diamond.
She went to Robert H. Smith School, Kelvin High School, and United College for Grade 12. She met and married her husband, Albert Boxer, around age 20.
Albert was 9 years older than she, interesting because 9 years was the difference in age between herself and each of her siblings. Albert was in the Air force during WWII, in the Italian campaign and in North Africa. He was a larger than life extrovert, just like Dave Wolfe (Phyllis’s father). My father Albert adored Phyllis and was very devoted to her happiness. They were a strong couple.
Phyllis loved beauty and surrounded herself with things of beauty. Her parents were in the retail clothing industry (Milady’s). My beautiful, glamourous and unique mother had the most gorgeous clothes in the world and was always stunning.
Phyllis had a strong love for Judaism, for our history, for learning, for education, and social justice issues. She and Albert were our role models for Tikun Olam. She loved reading and read incessantly. She did not have a TV.
Phyllis loved the arts. She was an accomplished piano and guitar player. She adored dancing and participated in several Winnipeg dance groups, dancing regularly until she was 90 years old. She loved ballet, tap and especially Flamingo dancing. We all remember going to her dance performances, watching my dad in the front row, quelling over his gorgeous and accomplished wife.
We all admired her inner strength, her spirit, her resilience, and her ability to put one foot in front of the other and keep going day by day through life’s adversities. She taught us to be strong, hopeful and resilient, and for those gifts, mom, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
In her late 80s Phyllis developed some health issues which slowed her down and gradually took her independence and eventually her life. She was fiercely independent, even until the day of her death.
Mom, we wish you a good journey, full of light and unconditional love.
Sincere thanks to hospital staff at Grace, St. Boniface and HSC, the Simkin Centre, Myra at Harmony Court, Dr. Bijay Johnson, Dr. Michael Cossoy, Dr. Kaldas and Dr. Ajao.
We are very grateful to the pallbearers, Jesse Boxer-Meyrowitz, Jon Waldman, Brett Gladstone, Avi Waldman, Daniel Moscovitch, and Zach Wiseman. We are fortunate to have such loving and loyal friends and family, who have supported us in so many ways, through the loss of so many of our family members. Thank you all for your support during these difficult times.
Obituaries
MARK BERNARD SCHACTER
May 12, 1946 – October 19, 2025
We are sad to announce that Mark Schacter died peacefully in Vancouver on October 19, 2025, at age 79.
He was born in Winnipeg on May 12, 1946, and moved to Vancouver at the age of 22 to seek his fortune, and lived and worked there for the rest of his life, in a number of careers. He was a raconteur, a free spirit, a sports fan, a close observer of current events, and a good friend to many, as far away as Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles. He attended the Canada-Russia hockey series in Moscow in 1972, flew on the Concorde to London, and went to Rio for Carnival on a number of occasions.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Brent Schacter and Sora Ludwig, nieces Miriam Stoller (Michael), Isanne Schacter, and Jennifer Schacter (Neil Rockman), grandnieces Reina and Maddie Stoller, Beatrice Schacter, and Sally Rockman, and grandnephew Jacob Rockman.
He was laid to rest in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery near his parents on October 22, 2025. May his memory be a blessing.
Donations in his memory may be made to Yaletown House (www.yaletown.org) where he resided or to the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
GLORIA GERSHMAN
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Gloria Beatrice Gershman (née Lipchen), lived 95 remarkable years filled with love, laughter, resilience, generosity, a youthful spirit and a touch of mischief. Gloria passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
She was predeceased by her parents Rose and Nathan Lipchen, her husband George Gershman in 2016 and her grandson Jesse Short-Gershman in 2014. Gloria is survived by her three children: Darryl (Diane), Shelley (David), and Stu (Niki), eight grandchildren: Rachel, Daniel (Yeraldin), Mike (Hannah), Kara, Emily, Ashley (Andy), Max, Zak, and two great-grandchildren Ari and Grayson.
Born in Winnipeg on November 27, 1929, Gloria spent her early childhood in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, before returning to Winnipeg in 1940. Gloria and George married in 1949, residing in Winnipeg until moving to Miami, Florida in 1958 and returning to Winnipeg in 1961.
Gloria attended business college and worked at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and Glendale Golf Course. She volunteered in the community conducting hearing tests for elementary school children.
To our family, Gloria was our biggest supporter, our safe place, our guiding voice, and our example of what it means to be strong, independent, loyal, resilient, and generous. Gloria was known for her wonderful sense of humour and occasional salty language.
Gloria’s talents included sewing, knitting, needle working, cooking, baking, gardening and bowling. The family loved her homemade cookies.
She was devoted to her grandchildren and shared a special and unique relationship with each of them. She adored every moment she spent with Ari and Grayson, who brought her joy in her later years.
Gloria was a regular with the super seniors at the local McDonalds. During the Covid pandemic, she and her friends held “parking lot gatherings” at McDonald’s, sitting in their cars, chatting through windows, laughing, and refusing to let isolation dull their spirits.
She was an unofficial counsellor and second mother for many of our friends, offering warmth, insight, honesty, and love.
Gloria cheered (sometimes colourfully) for her Winnipeg Blue Bomber and Jets, rarely missing a televised game.
Mom wanted her family to live their best lives; Mom’s memory will forever be a blessing and legacy for her loving family.
Among the many people we thank, we give a special thanks to Dr. Ify Osagie and mom’s dear health care companion Tess Barillos.
Graveside funeral was held on October 20, 2025, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.
Donations in Gloria’s memory may be made to the Buddy Check for Jesse Society, supporting youth mental health in honour of her grandson: https://buddycheckforjesse.com/ donate/
Obituaries
MARC AARON COHEN
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Marc Aaron Cohen on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the age of 55, following a brave battle with cancer.
Survived by his parents Lawrence and Dolly (Reesa) Cohen, sister Michelle (Ben) Levich, nephew Seth Levich, auntie Deanna Cohen, uncle Sherv Sharagge, and many cousins.
Marc was in love with his career. He was passionate about trucking and was good at it, wearing several hats during his career. He was a dispatcher, a long haul and local trucker, and an instructor to new truckers, while working for several trucking companies including Quick Transfer, Big Freight, and Gershman Transport. Marc received numerous awards and recognitions during his career including the Elite Award for Excellence in Performance in 2014 and 2015 from Big Freight. His commitment to the trucking industry led him to be chosen for the Industry Excellence Award in 2015 from the Manitoba Trucking Association.
Marc’s second love was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Being on his motorcycle brought him so much joy. He loved playing, watching and coaching football. He was active in the Nomad Football Club. Being outdoors in any kind of weather was his favorite place to be.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Brightwater Tuxedo, Health Science Center, and St Boniface Hospital. We are grateful for the compassionate care they provided Marc.
Donations in Marc’s memory can be made to Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation. 204-787-4143.