Obituaries
RITA VINE
After a life long lived, it is with loving memories and sad hearts we announce the passing of Rita Vine on June 23, 2022 at the age of 91.
Left with treasured memories are her children Marty and Pam, Cindy and Marc, and grandchildren Jordan(Tali), Riley(Bev), Amy(Liam), Jesse, and Seth. Rita was predeceased by her devoted and much loved husband of 60 years, Alec, who passed in 2014, parents, Rose and Nathan Garfinkel, and by her brother and sister-in-law Irv and Shirley Garfinkel.
Rita was born in Winnipeg on September 7, 1930, and grew up in the South End of the city. She lived with her parents and various members of extended family in their family grocery stores, and attended Kelvin High from which she graduated. Rita worked as a secretary in the Legislative Building until she married the love of her life Alec in 1953 and became a housewife and stay at home mom to Marty and Cindy. She was a devoted mother to her children, and a loving and caring daughter to her mother who she looked after for many years. When faced with difficult times throughout our dad’s lengthy illness, she demonstrated a strength and devotion that was an inspiration to all, first looking after him at home, then spending every day with him at the Simkin Centre where he spent his last years.
Rita enriched the lives of her family, friends, and acquaintances with her love, caring, and humour. She enjoyed watching her children mature, succeed in their careers, and start their own families. She took great pride in her grandchildren and so enjoyed hearing about their lives and accomplishments.
Rita and Alec were a wonderful team and had a loving 60 year marriage. They had a close circle of lifelong friends and were engaged in numerous activities. Saturday nights out ‘for a bite’ with the group went on for years as did travels to Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Mexico with various members of their gang. Rita was proud of her Jewish heritage and volunteered with ORT and other organizations over the years. She made long lasting connections and still cherished her childhood friends from Kelvin High. She remained close with her Maj group and developed new friendships in her later years as she navigated her new normal, living on her own with Alec a resident in the Simkin Centre. Credit to her for being able to reinvent her life and welcome new friends and experiences at this later stage of her life.
Although we are saddened by the loss of a loved family member, we celebrate the life of an accomplished women, wife, mother, and grandmother. It is said in the Jewish faith that people never leave as long as you remember them. We will cherish the long life she lived and the memories we made with her, rather than ask why we cannot have more. She lived a beautiful life blessed with family and friends and leaves us with many loving memories to hold in our hearts.
As a family we are grateful and extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff on Weinberg One at the Simkin Centre where our mom spent her last years, and to Leizl whose caring and compassion are so appreciated. Funeral services were held at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Monday June 27, 2022. Pallbearers were Jordan Vine, Riley Streifler, Amy Vine, Jesse Streifler, Seth Streifler and Harvey Garfinkel. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Shaarey Zedek, The Simkin Centre, or a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
RITA TRITT
March 29, 1925 – February 22, 2025
Just a month before her 100th birthday, Rita passed away peacefully with family by her side. She was the last of her generation of the large Weidman family, one of the earliest Jewish families in Winnipeg. Growing up in Winnipeg, she attended the University of Manitoba and the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from there. Rita was a very talented artist; she attended the Forum Art Institute for many, many years where she enjoyed the mentorship and camaraderie of fellow artists. She was proud of having sold several hundred pieces of her work over her time there.
Rita was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joe Tritt, in 1986. She is survived by her loving family, her children: Jacki and Sheldon Koven, Steven Tritt and Sharon Goszer Tritt; grandchildren: Lesley Koven and Eric Thomas, Mara Koven-Lapointe and Ryan Lapointe, Joseph Tritt and Shaun Castor; great-grandchildren: Ayla and Eli Thomas, and Kate Lapointe.
Funeral services were held on February 24, 2025. Rita’s family is grateful for the warm and attentive care of Sherryl and Sergio and all the staff on Weinberg 1 at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre where Rita lived for the last 3 years. If friends wish, a donation in Rita’s memory can be made to the Simkin Centre or the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Obituaries
ISABELLE BOOK
It is with sadness and gratitude for a life well lived, that we announce the passing of our family matriarch Isabelle Book. Izzy was born on November 21, 1925, and passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
She was predeceased by her parents Clara and Jacob Brownstein, her brother Walter, her sister Minnie Goldman, her beloved husband Arthur, her brother-in-law Noel and a fabulous group of women who shared a friendship that lasted decades.
She is survived by her 4 children, Warren and Faye Book, Marilyn and David Pressman, Jacqueline and Jory Stillwater and David and Elaine Book. She was a very proud Baba to Hilary Book, Deborah Book and Mike James, Laurie and Ginny Stillwater, Kayleigh and Barrett Ruggles, Adam Book and Gabe Bloomfield-Book and Seth Book and Amy Shore. She so enjoyed seeing pictures and videos of her great-grandchildren Hugo, Marcus, Reese, Maverick, Richie and Sullivan. She will also be greatly missed by her sister -in- law and dear friend Shirley Book.
Izzy had a great sense of humour and was often unable to get to the punchline of a joke because she was laughing so hard. She could be stubborn and strong minded. She would dig in her heels if she felt she was being pushed to make a decision she wasn’t ready to make. Izzy enjoyed time with family and friends but was also very comfortable with her own company.
Izzy knew what it meant to be a friend. She was a kind compassionate woman who cherished the people in her life and was always our biggest fan. Our mom was a quality human being who never forgot a birthday or anniversary. Izzy lived by the Golden Rule. She lived a long, healthy life but remained seriously young at heart.
There are memories to last a lifetime, ones that we will keep close as we honour her memory. We were blessed to have her for as long as we did, strong, loving and sharp until almost the end. She modeled what it meant to live a good life. She also did it on her terms.
The funeral took place on Sunday, February 9 at the B’nai Abraham Cemetery with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. Pallbearers were her grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at the Rosewood (Maple House) where she lived. She bonded with many of the wonderful people who cared and supported her there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
Naomi Lander Rosenthal February 14, 1940 – February 12, 2025
Naomi Lander Rosenthal was born in Winnipeg and passed away two days shy of her 85th birthday. She was the daughter of Drs. Jacob Joseph (Jack) Lander, a respected and beloved family practitioner in Winnipeg, and Clara (Shnay) Lander, a literary scholar and past President of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Board of Governors.
Naomi was a classically trained pianist and performed both formally and informally in many venues. She was always asked to play at any party where there was a piano. Her favorite classical piece was Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which readers can listen to and enjoy here. Naomi was heavily influenced by the version played by the pianist Glenn Gould, which approximates how Naomi approached it. Naomi had a great appreciation for complexity in musical style and composition. Her piano repertoire extended from Bach and Brahms to Elton John and Billy Joel.
Naomi lived in Toronto from 1968-1988 and then moved back to Winnipeg in 1989 to help care for her father when he became ill. She worked in senior executive assistant roles from the 1970s through the early 1990s in insurance, government and the non-profit sectors before retiring at age 65. Her work ethic, perfectionism and sense of mission throughout her career made Naomi a beloved team member, who also fostered life-long friendships with her supervisors and even their families.
In addition to music, Naomi had many interests, including gourmet cooking, film, science fiction and fantasy, and politics. Naomi could engage anyone in any number of subjects and was particularly interested in health and medicine. Naomi will now go on to teach medical students through the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ body donation program.
Naomi is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Ahava Rosenthal and Michael Shore, of Boston, MA; M. Sara Rosenthal and Kenneth Ain of Lexington, Kentucky; her grandchildren, Kayla Shore and Jacob Shore; her step-grandchildren, Maxwell Ain and Jacob Ain; her sisters, Myra Lander of San Mateo, California, and Judith Lander of Toronto; nephews Kalan Vuksanovich and Stephen Israels and many extended family members from the Lander families, Shnay families, and Rothberg families.
The family wishes to thank Richard (Dick) and Joanne Rothberg; Naomi’s wonderful caregivers at The Key, homecare assistance in Winnipeg, including Brian Boxall and Althea King; the Simkin Centre; and Elena Episcope for helping to make Naomi’s final years so much more comfortable.
A remembrance of Naomi will be held on Thursday evening, February 20th at 7 pm at 202 Lamont Blvd in Winnipeg. Donations in Naomi’s memory may be made to CancerCareManitoba or to the organization of your choice.
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