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Obituaries

RIVKA SELCHEN

Rivka Selchen died peacefully in the embrace of her family on March 19, at the age of 95.
Rivka was born in Winnipeg on August 10, 1924, into a large Yiddish-speaking family. She was the seventh and youngest child of Abraham Israel and Fruma (Hertsman) Boroditsky. Throughout her life she remained deeply and lovingly involved with her siblings and three generations of their offspring.

Rivka lived in Palestine from 1932 to 1940, and spoke fluent Hebrew the rest of her life. Her family was returning for a visit to Winnipeg in 1940 when World War II broke out in the Pacific, resulting in many adventures throughout the Middle East, India, China, and Japan. She lived in Winnipeg for the rest of her life, except for a year in Israel in 1959-60.
She married the love of her life, Zalman Selchen, in 1946, and they lived in harmony for almost 54 years until his passing in 2000.
Rivka’s life was defined by two profound imperatives – selfless service (“doing the right thing”) and relationships. She unfortunately had to demonstrate this devotion at an early age, caring at home for her dying mother, whom she adored, while also nurturing her first, newborn child. She spent more than 20 years sustaining Zalman through many illnesses, adding years to his life.
Rivka was profoundly committed to a particular kind of duty, which extended well beyond her family. She was a regular visitor to the elderly and lonely, both in their homes and in care facilities. She never missed an opportunity to “visit” the cemetery. As her friends aged she was deeply devoted to their care and well being.
Her sense of duty also extended to the community. From an early age she was an activist in Habonim, and later in Pioneer Women and the Peretz School Muter Farein, and she helped form a successful Tanach Chug.

Her devotion to family reached far beyond her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She had deep, ongoing relationships with a multitude of nieces and nephews and their offspring as well as the children of her large circle of close friends. Into her 90s she visited her family in Israel every year. As she got older she fielded regular, much appreciated phone calls from her devotees. A consistent theme in conversation with these extended family members and friends was that she had become a surrogate mother and grandmother for a remarkably large number of people.
Rivka was funny, joyous, and fully open to new people and experiences. She was always the “life of the party,” even at 93 and 94 at her eldest great granddaughters’ Bat Mitzvahs. She retained her interest in the arts, attending the symphony, theatre, ballet, and opera. She was always up for a new adventure–like going on a long motorcycle ride on her 80th birthday.
She remained socially engaged right until the end, establishing many new friendships in her 90s. Her sincere connection to people included the staff and workers at the Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence, where she lived for the last 10 years. She knew their stories and was deeply interested in them and their families.

Rivka was predeceased by all of her siblings and their spouses, all but two of her many close cousins, almost all of her life-long friends, and her beloved daughter-in-law Sharon Kirsh. She is survived by her children Moshe (Cathy Skene), Daniel, and Frumie (Doug McVicar); best friend Sharon Knazan (Murray); grandchildren Michael and Lisa, David and Brenlee, Steven and Anna, Nathaniel and Zena, Sarah, Malka, and Yale; and great-grandchildren Hayley, Gefen, Leah, Eden, Zachary, Matan, Elysia, and Akiva.
Due to the Covid 19 epidemic, services were private and there will be no shiva. A celebration of her life will be held when travel and gathering restrictions have been lifted. Donations in Rivka’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

 

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Obituaries

Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website

Joan HargraveChana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina14/07/195301/06/202616 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Irwin Barry StrongerYitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila16/09/194131/05/202615 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
David Ivan CohenDavid Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba06/06/195630/05/202614 Sivan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Phyllis Maxine HochmanTziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther31/12/194030/05/202614 Sivan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Alvin Murray ZivotAvraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam03/08/193127/05/202611 Sivan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Tova VickarTova bat Nachum v’Yenta24/08/194922/05/20266 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Karen LeipsicChaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel03/04/194421/05/20265 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Phyllis Lee DanaFayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya05/10/193617/05/20261 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Betty Brina SimonBayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam27/07/193515/05/202628 Iyar 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Basia Bayla FliegelBayla bat Leib31/05/193013/05/202626 Iyar 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Harold DiamondTzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana04/12/193512/05/202625 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Gary RayburnGershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha21/09/196509/05/202622 Iyar 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Ray SchnoorRaizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel13/06/192705/05/202619 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Gila Ruth FainsteinRachel bat Kiva v’Leah25/06/193504/05/202614 Iyar 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Toby SchwartzChaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana16/07/193201/05/202614 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Rachel WolmanRachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka03/02/196224/04/20267 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Leah GitlinLaya bat Yosef v’Frayda04/09/192608/04/202621 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Lin Joseph RosenbaumYosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah17/10/195206/04/202619 Nisan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Norman SteinNachum ben Avraham v’Chaya10/06/193206/04/202619 Nisan 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Marvin Saul SilverMenachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel20/11/194105/04/202618 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Kimberley Dawn KirshenbaumIsabella bat Avraham v’Sarah09/12/196903/04/202617 Nisan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Walter GanetskyZev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah23/09/194002/04/202615 Nisan 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
Lorelei Camille LavittRachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa11/04/193626/03/20268 Nisan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
Melvin MyersMoshe ben Chaim v’Rachel24/04/193624/03/20267 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info

To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/

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Obituaries

ALVIN M. ZIVOT August 3, 1941 – May 28, 2026

Alvin Murray Zivot, aged 94, died at home on May 28, 2026. He was a blessing in life for all of us who loved and admired him, and his memory will always be a blessing. Born in Winnipeg in 1931, he was too young to join the fight against fascism in Europe. He was a Jewish man willing to be counted and counted on.

Alvin dedicated his life to his loving family, close lifelong friends, and the community. He was an unceasingly devoted son to Jack and Lil, loving brother to Gerry and Bernice, loyal and loving husband to Ruby and then Libby, supportive, proud, and affectionate father to Paula and Gary, Eric and Jill, and Joel and Jennifer, and doting Zaida to Sam, Olivia, Solomon, Tovah, Eli, and Lilly. He is survived by his sister-in-law Zoe Piper and her husband Julian Piper.

Alvin enjoyed a long career as a skilled lawyer with an attention to detail and a sterling reputation. He wore his Queens Council recognition with honor. Alvin was more naturally a mediator and consensus builder than an adversary. He was the first chief justice of the Manitoba Landlord-Tenant tribunal. After many years of distinction, he pivoted to running elections for the Manitoba Metis Foundation.

In retirement, he shifted to philanthropy, big and small. He was a serious man who loved to laugh and delighted in those around him. He was the most loyal friend and showed up to provide support in the most difficult situations. He loved his wife Libby, who preceded him in death in 2009. For all who saw the way he looked at her and adored her, it would make anyone know that true love and marriage were real.

Space does not permit the mention of so many people whom he valued and who valued him. He will be buried next to his wife, Libby, and for all of us, we were blessed for the time we had with him. We will miss him for all the days of our lives.

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Obituaries

PHYLLIS LEE DANA October 5, 1936 – May 17, 2026

Phyllis Lee Dana came into the world on October 5, 1936, and left it peacefully at home in her sleep on May 17, 2026. Predeceased by her parents Maurice “Lippy” Benson Lipson and Ida “Billie” Lipson née Cohen, she is survived by her husband of over 71 years, Nathan Dana, their children Karen (Harry Havey) and Marshall (Andrea Miller), grandchildren Jessee (Nathaniel) and Josh Havey, her younger brother Edward Lipson (Carol), nephews Michael (Ceren) and Daniel (Doree), beloved cousins, many lifelong friends, and the hundreds who fondly remember her as their kindergarten teacher, “Mrs. Dana”.

An exceptionally talented singer and performer from a young age, she gave up a scholarship to study opera at New York City’s Curtis Institute of Music to marry and start a family with her true love and best friend, Nate – a decision she never regretted for a moment. As expressive and animated off the stage as she was on it, Phyllis was a pillar in Winnipeg’s Jewish community, known for her nearly 30 years of teaching in the Jewish day school system, as a vocal soloist and synagogue choir member, and as an active member of several community organizations.

Phyllis offered a receptive warmth and curiosity to all she met, possessed a keen intellect and a sharp wit, was a gifted writer, poet, and storyteller, prolific baker, voracious reader, lover of butterflies, and made a mean brisket.

Despite being 89 years old, her passing was still unexpected by the remarkable family, community, and legacy she leaves behind, and she will forever be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Because you loved to write in rhyme / Your words so thoughtful and divine / Here’s some for you, straight from the heart / Now from us you’ve had to depart / We cannot thank you near enough / For what you were to all of us / For teaching us to love and sing / And all those children all those things / For how to best articulate / And speak the things most think (not say) / Your voice forever will live on / In stories, teachings, and in song / Your work is done, the time has come / For you to rest, our precious one / Your memory a blessing be, Love you forever, 

Phyllis Lee!

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