Obituaries
SERKY GOLDBERG
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Serky Goldberg on the 14th of Tammuz, 5784 (July 20, 2024) at the age of 86. Her funeral was held at the Chesed Shel Emes and she was interred at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on July 22, 2024.
Sora Pearl Mozersky was born in Winnipeg and her first few months were spent in the home of her grandparents, David and Faigie Soudack on Cathedral Avenue before moving into the Mozersky home on Rupertsland. She grew up in the North End, attending the Folk Shul, Luxton, Seven Oaks, and Peretz School during her elementary school years, and then St John’s High School. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1958 and was certified as a teacher at Teachers College in 1959.
Serky’s family was cental to her life. She was in almost daily contact with those of us who lived locally, and those more distant were only a visit, phone call, FaceTime or birthday card away. She loved when members of the family came to the cottage in the summer or when she and Benny traveled to Toronto, Ottawa, California, Boston, New York or Israel for simchas, birthdays, or just a visit. Over the years she maintained strong ties with siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives all over North America and in Israel.
Serky had many dear friends and always had an active social life. She was treasurer of her Bridge group for over 60 years, participated with Benny in the “The Volleyball Group,” and stayed in touch with her Habonim Workshop cohort throughout her life. Later, she made new friends during winters in Palm Springs and on the various globetrotting cruises on which she and Benny embarked after his retirement.
A product of socialist Bundist Jews, Serky became a proud Zionist in her teens. Her love for Israel was strengthened after spending a year at Kibbutz Kfar Blum in 1954 on Habonim Workshop. Subsequently, she and Benny made numerous visits to Israel, including leading a mission on behalf of the Winnipeg Jewish community to Gan Yavne as part of Project Renewal.
Serky dedicated much of her volunteer time to the Combined Jewish Appeal, serving as Chair of the Women’s Division, Chair of the Annual Campaign, and contributed to many committees at a national level. Over the years, she led many local committees and subcommittees that helped assure the vibrancy and continuity of Winnipeg’s Jewish community. The Jewish Federation honoured her with the Max Nathanson Young Leadership Award in 1977 and the Max and Mollie Shore Memorial Award in 2018. She was also a member of Pioneer Women, Hadassah and volunteered as a canvasser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Serky applied skills she learned at Teachers College to teach English as a Second Language to new Canadians throughout the 1990’s, and to inform her service as the Chair of the Board of Jewish Education.
Serky was often found reading a book, magazine or newspaper, knitting, listening to CBC, baking, telling a story or dispensing advice. She was elegant and understated. She loved hosting parties and setting a beautiful table. She appreciated art, music and literature. She loved her summers at the cottage in Gimli. Her phenomenal memory, sharp intellect and perceptive judgment were the source of answers to many questions about the family, the Winnipeg community, Israel, cooking, entertaining, fundraising or really any other topic you can imagine. Her love for us all was a great gift, and she was loved by all.
Serky is predeceased by her parents, Myer and Lily Mozersky and her brother Ken Mozersky. She leaves behind her husband of 64 years, Dr. Benjamin Goldberg; brother Dan Mozersky (Joy), and sister Ruthie Grubert; children Harold Goldberg (Alisa), Marty Goldberg (Sharon), and Elana Schultz (Myron); grandchildren, Samuel Wolfberg (Tali), Anna Wagner (Adam), Jacob Goldberg (Kelsey Fenn), Adina Goldberg (Max Levit), Tamar Goldberg (Benjamin Miller), Leora Goldberg, Dafna Schultz, Abbie Schultz, and Liat Schultz; great grandchildren Bella, Maya, Miko, Reni, Bahir, and Hatzkel, and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations in Serky’s memory may be made to Serky and Benny Goldberg Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, www.jewishfoundation.org 204- 477-7520, 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.