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.
Obituaries
Lorraine Norma Reiner (nee Reich)
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Lorraine Reiner announces the passing of our mother and baba after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her children, Marlaina (Hillel) and Susan (Wil), her grandchildren, Sarah (Justin), Jordana (Blake), and Micah, and her great grandson, Elias. She was predeceased by her parents Rose and Sam, her husband Barry, her brother Max, her son Sam, and her granddaughters June and Beth.
Lorraine, at her core, was a loving caregiver. Lor-raine‘s father died when she was only eight years old. She grew up helping her mother with household and family chores after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She cared for her mother-in-law, husband, and cousin during their battles with ill-nesses and final stages of life.
We remember Lorraine as a woman whose love for her family knew no limits. She adored her children and grandchildren and formed special bonds with each of them. Her family was everything to her, and she meant the world to her family. She stepped into the role of Baba Lorraine with open arms and an enormous heart; there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her children and grandchildren. Lorraine was surrounded by her family during her final stage of life.
Cooking was an important part of Lorraine’s identi-ty. She was most famous for her chicken soup and S-cookies and she loved to spread joy and comfort through sharing her cooking with others. She always had a freezer stocked with homemade meals and anytime a family member felt unwell, she was at the ready with a batch of “Jewish penicillin”.
Lorraine had a diverse and eclectic resume that in-cluded office work for all three Jewish Newspapers, including The Jewish Post, The Western Jewish News, and The Yiddeshe Vort. Later she worked as office staff at Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and As-troid Management. Her final job was an 11-year tenure as a clerk for the City of Winnipeg’s Assess-ment Department.
Lorraine loved sharing stories with everyone and had a special way of getting lost in a story. Any-one who had the pleasure of listening to one of Lor-raine’s stories knows how her mood instantly lit up when she had the opportunity to share. Her stories, alongside her recipes, will live on through her loved ones.
The funeral was held at the Chesed Shel Emes on Tuesday March 26, followed by a burial service at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Blake Nichols, Justin Odwak, Cal & Asher Reich, Brian Rosenberg, Wil Scheiring, Sean Smith, and Micah Sommer. Honorary pallbearers were Mickey Rosenberg & Alan Schweid.
The family wishes to thank the numerous health-care staff who participated in Lorraine’s care over the past couple of months, especially the wonderful staff at the Health Sciences Centre H3 surgical unit, Drs. Bubis, Goldenberg, Lipschitz, Shell, and Visser.
Obituaries
EDWARD PERRY REISS April 30, 1935 – February 20, 2024
Ed was born in Poland in 1935 and fled to Canada in 1939 with his parents Raizel and Ira and older brothers Harry and Sam. The family settled in Edenbridge, SK where they farmed and where sister Ida was born.
In high school, the family moved to Winnipeg where Ed attended St. John’s before attending the University of Manitoba and finishing at the University of Western Ontario.
In 1968, Ed met his wife Barbara playing badminton at the YMHA. They were married three months later and left for New York where Ed trained as a stockbroker on Wall Street. Returning to Winnipeg, Ed worked as a broker for years before joining Barbara in what became the family business, Desserts Plus. They worked together for close to 40 years.
In 1971 daughter Lisa was born followed by Pam in 1974. Ed loved spending time with his family at their cottage near Kenora or on many road trips around North America and trips around the world. We were blessed and fortunate to be able to enjoy our time together.
Ed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara; daughter Pam and his buddy Farfel, as well as his brother Sam, sister Ida Alpern and in-laws, Len and Lynne Shapiro, Honey Kowall, and nephews and nieces.
Ed was predeceased by his dear daughter Lisa, parents, Raizel and Ira, in-laws, Irene and Joe Shapiro, brother Harry, sisters-in-law, Vicky and Bayla, brothers-in-law, Saul Alpern and David Shapiro.
The family thanks the wonderful staff at the Simkin Centre who were very supportive and caring during his time there. And our deep thanks to Cantor Tracy Kasner for performing the burial ceremony with kindness and sensitivity.
Ed was a man of integrity, intelligence, honesty, wit, and above all else, he loved his girls.
Obituaries
PHILIP KAHANOVITCH
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Philip Kahanovitch in Winnipeg, MB on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Philip will be remembered by his dear son Joshua; brother David; niece and nephews, Deborah, Aaron and Jonathan. Philip was predeceased by his loving wife Susan, parents, Moses and Esther, brother Gerry, and sister-in-law Risa.
Philip was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Philip loved travelling on cruises and throughout both North America and Europe. Philip will be remembered for his career as a teacher in both Altona, Neepawa, and Winnipeg, and for his long standing practice as a professional accountant. Philip adored dogs, particularly terriers, and owned several furry companions over the years, including his beloved Hamish.
Following a service, Philip was interred at Rosh Pina Cemetery. If loved ones desire, a memorial donation can be made to a charity of their choice.
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