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Obituaries

RONNA FILKOW

September 19, 1948 – Winnipeg, Manitoba January 22, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Ronna Avis (Turner) Filkow was born on September 19, 1948 in Winnipeg, and passed away on January 22, 2024 in Calgary, after a brave battle with cancer. She was 75.

The second of four children born to George and Muriel Turner, Ronna grew up in a loving and close-knit Jewish family in north-end Winnipeg. George, an ex-Air Force drill sergeant, was a formidable person with a strong work ethic and a huge heart. Muriel infused a mother’s love into her delicious food and warm home. Ronna somehow combined these qualities – she was kind and assertive, caring and confident, a fabulous cook, and a fierce supporter for those she loved.

Ronna was a tomboy who loved to play and watch sports, and also a graceful ballerina and beautiful catalogue model. She was valedictorian at West Kildonan Collegiate, Sweetheart Queen at the YMHA, and enjoyed many wonderful friendships, especially with the “Lovelies” at their epic reunion weekends. Ronna worked as an elementary school teacher, a postpartum doula and childcare provider. She loved animals, healthy eating, jogging and watching tennis and hockey. She was a lifelong learner who loved to read, research and discover. She also loved meeting new people and hearing their stories. Her warm, positive energy made people feel welcome, comforted and special.

When Ronna was 11 years old, Colin Filkow moved in across the street. He was a jokester who made her laugh and had a cool go-cart. They became fast friends and would use walkie-talkies to chat with each other from across the street. Within a few years, the two were inseparable. They were married in 1969 and went on to have many great adventures as partners, travellers, parents and grandparents in Los Angeles, Winnipeg, Mexico, Palm Springs, China and Calgary.

Ronna and Colin were married for nearly 55 years and had three children: Amie, Dylan and Annie. Ronna’s favourite job was being a stay-at-home mom and later a devoted Baba to six grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 to 17, attending each one of their births. She was an honorary Baba for countless other babies and kids, whether it was providing newborn care, offering wisdom and guidance to grateful new parents, or making the children in her life feel loved and cherished.

Ronna will be lovingly remembered by her husband Colin, her children Amie (Paul LaPointe) Filkow, Dylan (Dana) Filkow, and Annie (Joel) Merrifield, and her siblings Barbara (Barry) Cutler, Gerri (Bob) Ostry, and Bryan (Wendy) Turner. She was predeceased by her parents George and Muriel Turner. Her grandchildren Leo, Asher, Sylvie, Lilly, Bowie and Georgie will miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ronna’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society. Funeral service was held on Friday, January 26 in Calgary.

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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.

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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.

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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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