Obituaries
SHEILA STREIFLER
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Sheila Streifler on December 10, 2020, at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Nathan, and her parents Irvine and Fanny Charach.
She will be deeply missed by her children Leesa (Kenneth), Marc (Cindy), her grandchildren Riley, Jesse, Seth, and Daniel, her siblings Harold Charach, Neil Charach (Judy) and Elaine Campbell, along with many nieces, nephews and their families.
Sheila was born on June 4, 1930, the oldest of four children. Growing up on Scotia Street, in Winnipeg’s North End, she was the “big sister,” a role she treasured. In her youth she attended St. John’s High School and spent memory-filled summers at her family cottage at Winnipeg Beach. After attending the University of Manitoba, she worked as a legal secretary. During this time, she met our dad, fell in love, and they married in 1953. They had a wonderful marriage and mom took great joy in being a wife, a mother and a homemaker. She was an exceptional cook and baker and she created a comfortable, beautiful home. We have fond memories of family vacations to California and B.C. visiting relatives. Tragically, our dad passed away much too soon and mom was left a widow at age 46. The transition to life as a single mother was very difficult, but with great courage and determination mom rebuilt her life.
Our mother’s greatest pleasure was being part of a close-knit community of family and friends. She was an active member of Winnipeg’s Jewish community, giving generously of her time to ORT and Hadassah and was a member of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Mom was blessed with a vibrant personality, and great enthusiasm; qualities that drew people to her. She was known to be extremely capable and savvy, and her advice was often sought out by friends and family.
Mom was motivated by what she could do for others. Doing what she called “the right thing” was very important to her. She found great joy in giving her mother the love and support she needed to live independently in her own home until she was 92 years old. Mom loved being with family and she often travelled to Vancouver and California to be at family events. Her nieces and nephews, and their families knew her well and her love for them was mutual.
With the birth of her first grandson, mom found a new role that she adored, that of Grandmother (Bobi). She was over the moon with pride for her four clever, handsome grandsons, always interested in what they were doing and making sure she was present in their lives. She had no trouble keeping up, endlessly inquisitive and full of energy.
Mom always seemed much younger than her years. She was energetic and engaged in life. She enjoyed attending cultural events, going out for dinner, and playing mahjong with her friends. Always fashionable, she was admired by many. Mom’s large circle of friends, some life-long and others more recent, played a key role in her happiness and enjoyment of life. She lived a happy, active and independent life until she was 85.
After being diagnosed with a debilitating illness, mom moved into the Simkin Centre in fall 2017. Mom met her illness with grace. She was brave beyond words, setting an example for all of us, as she did throughout her life.
Mom taught us so many valuable lessons, the biggest one being that of generosity and kindness. She will be remembered as a woman of great courage and inner strength and a gracious, spirited person with an enormous capacity for joy. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend. Our love for her is eternal and although we will miss her greatly, she will have a special place in our family forever.
We are grateful for the care Mom received from the staff at the Simkin Centre and Dr. Wayne Manishen. We are also grateful for Maria Arbuthnot, whose love and exceptional care greatly enhanced mom’s quality of life.
Family and friends wishing to honour mom’s memory may make a donation to the Simkin Centre, the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, or a charity of choice.
Obituaries
MARK BERNARD SCHACTER
May 12, 1946 – October 19, 2025
We are sad to announce that Mark Schacter died peacefully in Vancouver on October 19, 2025, at age 79.
He was born in Winnipeg on May 12, 1946, and moved to Vancouver at the age of 22 to seek his fortune, and lived and worked there for the rest of his life, in a number of careers. He was a raconteur, a free spirit, a sports fan, a close observer of current events, and a good friend to many, as far away as Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles. He attended the Canada-Russia hockey series in Moscow in 1972, flew on the Concorde to London, and went to Rio for Carnival on a number of occasions.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Brent Schacter and Sora Ludwig, nieces Miriam Stoller (Michael), Isanne Schacter, and Jennifer Schacter (Neil Rockman), grandnieces Reina and Maddie Stoller, Beatrice Schacter, and Sally Rockman, and grandnephew Jacob Rockman.
He was laid to rest in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery near his parents on October 22, 2025. May his memory be a blessing.
Donations in his memory may be made to Yaletown House (www.yaletown.org) where he resided or to the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
GLORIA GERSHMAN
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Gloria Beatrice Gershman (née Lipchen), lived 95 remarkable years filled with love, laughter, resilience, generosity, a youthful spirit and a touch of mischief. Gloria passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
She was predeceased by her parents Rose and Nathan Lipchen, her husband George Gershman in 2016 and her grandson Jesse Short-Gershman in 2014. Gloria is survived by her three children: Darryl (Diane), Shelley (David), and Stu (Niki), eight grandchildren: Rachel, Daniel (Yeraldin), Mike (Hannah), Kara, Emily, Ashley (Andy), Max, Zak, and two great-grandchildren Ari and Grayson.
Born in Winnipeg on November 27, 1929, Gloria spent her early childhood in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, before returning to Winnipeg in 1940. Gloria and George married in 1949, residing in Winnipeg until moving to Miami, Florida in 1958 and returning to Winnipeg in 1961.
Gloria attended business college and worked at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and Glendale Golf Course. She volunteered in the community conducting hearing tests for elementary school children.
To our family, Gloria was our biggest supporter, our safe place, our guiding voice, and our example of what it means to be strong, independent, loyal, resilient, and generous. Gloria was known for her wonderful sense of humour and occasional salty language.
Gloria’s talents included sewing, knitting, needle working, cooking, baking, gardening and bowling. The family loved her homemade cookies.
She was devoted to her grandchildren and shared a special and unique relationship with each of them. She adored every moment she spent with Ari and Grayson, who brought her joy in her later years.
Gloria was a regular with the super seniors at the local McDonalds. During the Covid pandemic, she and her friends held “parking lot gatherings” at McDonald’s, sitting in their cars, chatting through windows, laughing, and refusing to let isolation dull their spirits.
She was an unofficial counsellor and second mother for many of our friends, offering warmth, insight, honesty, and love.
Gloria cheered (sometimes colourfully) for her Winnipeg Blue Bomber and Jets, rarely missing a televised game.
Mom wanted her family to live their best lives; Mom’s memory will forever be a blessing and legacy for her loving family.
Among the many people we thank, we give a special thanks to Dr. Ify Osagie and mom’s dear health care companion Tess Barillos.
Graveside funeral was held on October 20, 2025, at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.
Donations in Gloria’s memory may be made to the Buddy Check for Jesse Society, supporting youth mental health in honour of her grandson: https://buddycheckforjesse.com/ donate/
Obituaries
MARC AARON COHEN
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Marc Aaron Cohen on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the age of 55, following a brave battle with cancer.
Survived by his parents Lawrence and Dolly (Reesa) Cohen, sister Michelle (Ben) Levich, nephew Seth Levich, auntie Deanna Cohen, uncle Sherv Sharagge, and many cousins.
Marc was in love with his career. He was passionate about trucking and was good at it, wearing several hats during his career. He was a dispatcher, a long haul and local trucker, and an instructor to new truckers, while working for several trucking companies including Quick Transfer, Big Freight, and Gershman Transport. Marc received numerous awards and recognitions during his career including the Elite Award for Excellence in Performance in 2014 and 2015 from Big Freight. His commitment to the trucking industry led him to be chosen for the Industry Excellence Award in 2015 from the Manitoba Trucking Association.
Marc’s second love was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Being on his motorcycle brought him so much joy. He loved playing, watching and coaching football. He was active in the Nomad Football Club. Being outdoors in any kind of weather was his favorite place to be.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Brightwater Tuxedo, Health Science Center, and St Boniface Hospital. We are grateful for the compassionate care they provided Marc.
Donations in Marc’s memory can be made to Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation. 204-787-4143.