On February 23, 2021, at 2:55 a.m., we lost our mother, sister, aunt, friend and dental hygienist, Sharon Beth Kaplan. Her sudden passing, shortly after learning she had pancreatic cancer, has left a void in all of our hearts.
Born Sharon Beth Slayen, she was predeceased by her parents, Ruth and Hookey Slayen and her sister Heather Slayen. She is survived by her loving daughters, Blair Kaplan Venables (Shayne Venables) and Alana Kaplan, sister Reesa (Martin), brother Stuart Slayen (Shira Cohen), nieces and nephews, Cari, Noah, Alyssa, Adam (Rachel), and great-niece Molly.
Sharon was raised in West Kildonan and attended Talmud Torah, Jefferson Jr. High, and graduated from Garden City Collegiate in 1977. She studied Dental Hygiene at the University of Manitoba and had a long and honourable career as a dental hygienist. Over the years, she worked at various dental offices, including East Kildonan Dental Group where she worked for the past 29 years. Her work family was her second family. Sharon had a taste of mini-retirement when the pandemic first started and she hated it. She loved her job, co-workers, bosses, and patients so much that she worked up to three weeks prior to her passing.
Sharon did everything in her power to make sure her daughters were set up for success. She did everything she could to give them a good life. She loved going on family vacations and was always the first one at the pool to make sure her family got the best lounge chairs. She was always the first one to a party and the last one to leave the dance floor. She was everyone’s biggest fan, especially her daughters’.
Sharon had the warmest smile, the quirkiest sense of humour, and such a loving nature.
Her family was with her, holding her, when she took her final breaths and peacefully left us. The memories we made together will always be a blessing.
We love you, Mom.
Sharon was laid to rest at the Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery on February 24. Pallbearers were Cheryl Metzler, Teri Pesochin, Evan Roitenberg, Neil Rykiss, Norm Yusim and Paul Zimberg.
The family extends its gratitude to the staff who cared for Sharon at the Grace and St. Boniface Hospitals, and to Rabbi Kliel Rose of Congregation Etz Chayim for his support.
Donations can be made in Sharon’s memory to Pancreatic Cancer Canada or to the Ruth and Hookey Slayen Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
