Obituaries
RITA GUNN November 29, 1941 – April 18, 2023
With deep sadness the family of Rita Gunn (nee Grushko) announces the passing of our beloved Wife, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Great Aunt.
Even before she graduated from St. John’s High School, Rita fibbed about her age and started working in the Eaton’s slipper bar. After a period in retail, she married Bernie Gunn, and moved to marketing and promotions for CKY Radio. She began her university education alongside motherhood, as an adult student. During this time, she became a crisis counsellor for Klinic, setting the stage for a lifetime commitment to feminism and social justice.
Well into her forties, Rita earned her Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Manitoba, completing a thesis on the failure of the criminal justice system in supporting victims of sexual assault. This eventually became a book (co-authored with Candice Minch) published by the University of Manitoba Press: Sexual Assault: The Dilemma of Disclosure. She lectured in Women’s Studies at the university and was a guest speaker at conferences in Canada and abroad.
When many contemplate slowing down, Rita embarked on a career as a management consultant, co-founding Prairie Research Associates in 1988 with her second husband Gregory Mason and Kerry Dangerfield. Thereupon followed a 27-year career where she directed major studies in criminal justice, health, and the arts. One of her favourite projects was an evaluation of the Inuit Art Foundation, which saw her travel throughout remote northern communities visiting artists in their studios and homes. A painting gifted to her by Simon Tookoomee was among her treasured possessions.
Rita gave generously of her time, serving as a life member of the National Council of Jewish Women. She also was on the Board of MTC and led the revitalization of the Black and White Ball to become one of Winnipeg’s premier fund-raising events.
Rita lived life large. She was a fabulous cook, though any meal she prepared always seemed to have more leftovers than food at the start. She cared for her father when his health faltered and attended her mother during her years in long term care. She always dropped anything she was doing to support her grandchildren. She was the ideal travel companion, always game for an adventure and new sights. Anyone who met her quickly realized they had encountered a force of nature: charming, astute, and generous to a fault.
Rita was predeceased by her parents Jack Grushko and Pearl Grushko (nee Levine), sister Geraldine Sugarman (nee Grushko) and brother in-law Jack Sugarman.
Left to mourn and remember Rita are her husband Gregory Mason, sister Brenda Casey (Peter), son Danny Gunn (Karen Blicker), daughter Alana Gunn (Steven Gall), and grandchildren Matthew Gunn, Jeremy Gunn, Jonah Gall, Ariella Gunn, and Raeya Gall. Also deeply saddened by Rita’s passing are nephews/nieces Jeff Sugarman, Rochelle Winterton, Noah Casey, and Jessica Musoke (Ronnie), great nieces/nephew, Niria Sugarman, Aziza Musoke and Keon Musoke, sister-in-law Cathy Albrecht (Sam) and Skylar Albrecht.
The family thanks the palliative care team at WRHA and the caregivers who helped Rita pass at home after her prolonged illness. Most notably, we owe a debt of gratitude to Joy Senyondwa, who tended to Rita selflessly to the last. Also, we appreciate the kindness of Helen Funk and Valerie Firth who offered Rita hours of companionship and compassion.
If you wish to remember Rita, please donate to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, or the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| Jack Shrom | Yaacov ben Aryeh Leib v’Rachel | 02/03/1931 | 08/09/2026 | 26 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Raymond Richard Green | Reuben Rafael ben Leib Natan v’Yetta | 04/02/1951 | 31/08/2026 | 18 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rhoda Kravetsky | Tziril Tovah bat Mendel v’Doba | 21/05/1948 | 29/08/2026 | 16 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Brent Drew Cohen | Binyamin ben Zvi ha’Kohen v’Esther | 02/10/1958 | 28/08/2026 | 15 Elul 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Liza Lyuber | Laya bat Lazer v’Malka | 05/12/1926 | 28/08/2026 | 15 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Michael Tennenhouse | Melech Shimon ben Hersh Tzvi v’Gileh | 22/04/1949 | 28/08/2026 | 15 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Inf |
| Lillian Neaman | Leah Rivka bat Eliyahu v’Chana | 16/02/1934 | 21/08/2026 | 8 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Malik Juravsky | Melech ben Levi Yitzchak v’Luba | 24/03/1931 | 19/08/2026 | 6 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Harvey Appelle | Chaim Tzvi ben Yehoshua v’Bayla | 08/05/1940 | 15/08/2026 | 2 Elul 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Mordy “Buddy” Brownstone | Mordechai Leib ben Yishia v’Machla | 28/07/1926 | 11/08/2026 | 28 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Karen Leslie Gomori | Gayla bat Shlomo haLevi V’Chaya Sarah | 15/02/1950 | 10/08/2026 | 27 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rhona Shnier | Rachel bat Shaul v’Chana | 04/07/1927 | 09/08/2026 | 26 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Belle Burke | Bluma bat Zalman v’ Sara Elka | 12/05/1926 | 06/08/2026 | 23 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Reesa Gail Langhans | Reesa bat Yishayahu haKohen v’Faigel Tzipora | 17/09/1948 | 06/08/2026 | 23 Av 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Gerald Kalef | Gershon ben Yitzchak v’Chana | 24/06/1928 | 01/08/2026 | 19 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Arthur Joseph Nitikman | Aharon Yosef ben Yisrael v’Devorah | 17/05/1940 | 29/07/2026 | 15 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sheldon Berney | – | 06/10/1936 | 28/07/2026 | 14 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Arthur Arkin | Avraham ben Yitzchak haLevi v’Sarah | 22/05/1927 | 24/07/2026 | 10 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Dick Bell | Daniel ben David v’Chana | 28/12/1927 | 19/07/2026 | 5 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Reesa Nerman | Rivka bat Shlomo v’ Shaindel Leah | 30/05/1954 | 18/07/2026 | 4 Av 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Garry Israel Frankel | Gershon Israel ben Shlomo Moshe v’Miriam | 14/08/1953 | 13/07/2026 | 28 Tamuz 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Caroline Shelley Raber | Tzipi bat Yisrael v’Ita | 30/01/1955 | 11/07/2026 | 26 Tamuz 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Estelle Meyers | Esther Tzivia | 26/10/1941 | 10/07/2026 | 25 Tamuz 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Alice Grace Lazar | Sarah bat Avraham v’Sarah | 27/12/1926 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Paula Wolfman | Piya bat Mordechai v’Esther | 15/09/1953 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Sharon Ricki Feuer | Sharona Rivka bat Avraham v’Sarah | 14/05/1940 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Neil Margolis | Nissan ben Chaim Nechemia v’Deveorah | 29/07/1936 | 01/07/2026 | 16 Tamuz 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sheldon Paul Nemy | Solomon ben Moshe haKohen v’Rachel | 01/04/1947 | 23/06/2026 | 8 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Cemetery | More Info |
| Murray Kadys | Moshe ben Shmuel v’Bayla | 12/01/1945 | 19/06/2026 | 4 Tamuz 5786 | Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Ave | More Info |
| Richard Gordon | Yitzchak ben Yaakov v’Dina | 06/11/1943 | 14/06/2026 | 29 Sivan 5786 | Grays’ Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa MB | More Info |
| David Harold Diamond | David ben Avraham Yehoshua haLevi | 08/04/1929 | 09/06/2026 | 24 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sidney Green | Simcha ben Aharon v’Rosa | 01/08/1929 | 07/06/2026 | 22 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Cecile Kowall | Tzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata | 24/05/1935 | 03/06/2026 | 18 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Joan Hargrave | Chana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina | 14/07/1953 | 01/06/2026 | 16 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Irwin Barry Stronger | Yitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila | 16/09/1941 | 31/05/2026 | 15 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| David Ivan Cohen | David Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba | 06/06/1956 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Maxine Hochman | Tziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther | 31/12/1940 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Alvin Murray Zivot | Avraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam | 03/08/1931 | 27/05/2026 | 11 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Tova Vickar | Tova bat Nachum v’Yenta | 24/08/1949 | 22/05/2026 | 6 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Karen Leipsic | Chaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel | 03/04/1944 | 21/05/2026 | 5 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Lee Dana | Fayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya | 05/10/1936 | 17/05/2026 | 1 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Betty Brina Simon | Bayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam | 27/07/1935 | 15/05/2026 | 28 Iyar 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Basia Bayla Fliegel | Bayla bat Leib | 31/05/1930 | 13/05/2026 | 26 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Harold Diamond | Tzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana | 04/12/1935 | 12/05/2026 | 25 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gary Rayburn | Gershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha | 21/09/1965 | 09/05/2026 | 22 Iyar 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Ray Schnoor | Raizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel | 13/06/1927 | 05/05/2026 | 19 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gila Ruth Fainstein | Rachel bat Kiva v’Leah | 25/06/1935 | 04/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Toby Schwartz | Chaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana | 16/07/1932 | 01/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rachel Wolman | Rachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka | 03/02/1962 | 24/04/2026 | 7 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Leah Gitlin | Laya bat Yosef v’Frayda | 04/09/1926 | 08/04/2026 | 21 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Lin Joseph Rosenbaum | Yosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah | 17/10/1952 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Norman Stein | Nachum ben Avraham v’Chaya | 10/06/1932 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Marvin Saul Silver | Menachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel | 20/11/1941 | 05/04/2026 | 18 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Kimberley Dawn Kirshenbaum | Isabella bat Avraham v’Sarah | 09/12/1969 | 03/04/2026 | 17 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Walter Ganetsky | Zev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah | 23/09/1940 | 02/04/2026 | 15 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Lorelei Camille Lavitt | Rachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa | 11/04/1936 | 26/03/2026 | 8 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Melvin Myers | Moshe ben Chaim v’Rachel | 24/04/1936 | 24/03/2026 | 7 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/
Obituaries
BRUCE MILTENBERG
b. October 1st, 1940, d. 9 pm August 31st, 2026 (20th Elul 5786)
Bruce Miltenberg was a true New Yorker, born and reared on the West Side of Manhattan. He came of age in the New York of the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, and built his life largely through his own initiative, judgment, and persistence. His mother, a Ziegfeld follies girl, supported her two boys as an actress, and insisted they learn Accounting. Bruce attended Stuyvesant High School, Hunters College, became a Licensed CPA, and opened his first tax office in the basement of Berman’s candy store on Broadway (where he’d worked since age 12). During the early ‘60s he did a stint with the U.S. Army Reserve.
Meantime, from that first basement office courtesy the Berman Brothers, Bruce established accounting practices in Flushing, Fort Washington, and at Eighty-First Street on Broadway. By the end of the ‘60s he was buying residential multifamily buildings in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Ultimately Bruce closed his tax practice to devote himself to real estate, with holdings eventually in New York, Boston. Philadelphia and Canada.
There was much more to Bruce than his real estate holdings. That was merely the matrix upon which he lived his philosophy of life and nurtured his family. He was an explorer in every sense. He loved ideas, conversation, and a spirited discussion. He often said: “I may not be big enough to push anyone around, but I am too big to be pushed around”. He believed fiercely in independence, courage, and resilience. He encouraged his family to take chances, see the world, stand up for themselves, and meet life’s challenges head on. Bruce was deeply proud of his Jewish heritage and was a lifelong supporter of Israel. He was also extraordinarily generous, often quietly meeting needs and supporting causes without recognition.
In the early 90s Bruce met Cynthia Cohen, of Winnipeg, who was then living in NYC. They married in 1994 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, her family’s shule. They began to summer in Winnipeg Beach. As well travelled as he was, (his curiosity took him to some of the world’s most distant places, from Bhutan to Ushuaia), it was Winnipeg Beach—and especially the treasured friends he made there—that became his favourite place in the world. Here is a quote from one of these friends: “Bruce had a way of engaging each and every person who came into his sphere of life. He knew how to reach out to uncover what was important in their lives, while finding new ways to grow himself. He made us laugh, question what’s happening around us and strive to be a better person. Throughout his humour there was an undeniable honesty that we loved and will forever miss.”
Bruce is survived by his wife Cynthia nee Cohen, their daughters Rachel and Leah, his son Andrew (Jennifer), and daughter Alissa Wade (William), his grandchildren Skylar Vertes, Isabel and Jacob Miltenberg, Ava Miltenberg.
Obituaries
HARVEY APPELLE
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Harvey Appelle, peacefully surrounded with his family, on August 15, 2026, at the age of 86.
Harvey was a cherished, loving and devoted husband, a proud father, an adoring Zaida, and loyal friend. His gentle spirit, generous and kind heart, quiet wisdom, and wonderful sense of humour made everyone around him feel welcome and loved.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife and life partner of 64 years, Faye; his children, Beverley, Rochelle (Martin), and Sheldon (Lorey); his beloved grandchildren, Daniel, Mikaela, Shane and Shawn; and brother, Morry (Christine). He was predeceased by his parents, Bella, Samuel and Pere; and his brother Gerry.
Harvey was born in Winnipeg, on May 8, 1940, to Bella and Samuel Appelle. He grew up in the North End, attended Luxton School and later St. John’s High School. Harvey worked in the lumber and building industries; drafted residential and commercial buildings; and later retired from Sears.
He met the love of his life, Faye Globerman, in 1961 and they married a year later. Together they raised three children.
Harvey was an avid golfer, curler, and bowler, and a dedicated season ticket holder for the Bombers for many years.
He dedicated his life to his family and later he was a dedicated volunteer, giving back to his community by generously giving his time to many organizations, including the Jewish Child and Family Services, WRHA, and events including the 1999 Pan Am Games, and multiple Grey Cups. He also donated blood to the Red Cross for many years.
Harvey will be fondly remembered for his love of family and friends, and for the respect and affection he earned from all who knew him. He was the true definition of a “mensch”.
Those wishing to honour Harvey’s memory may donate to the Jewish Child and Family Services or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of MB.
We are heartbroken and forever grateful for the love and legacy he leaves behind. We will miss him beyond words, love him always, and carry his memory with us forever.

