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
DAVID BLOOMFIELD
Sadly, David Bloomfield passed peacefully on December 19, 2024, age 79.
David was predeceased by his parents, Marion and Phillip Bloomfield, and older brothers, Joel and Auby. David will be deeply missed and mourned by his wife, Sheila, of 56 years, the love of his life, his children, Brenlee (Michael) and Evan (Ellen), as well as cherished grandchildren, Matthew, Aaron, Lainee, and Lauren. David shared close relationships with his younger sisters, Naomi and Judi, and with their husbands, Shmuel and Larry, and with his sister-in-law, Linda. David also enjoyed meaningful relationships with each of his nieces and nephews.
David was born on January 20, 1945, and grew up in Winnipeg’s North End. He enjoyed many summers at his grandmother’s cottage in Winnipeg Beach, the place he first met Sheila. His love of the outdoors and beach life continued throughout his life.
David was proud of the varied jobs he held and businesses he created across his life. He opted for early retirement from Air Canada choosing to become an independent business owner, purchasing, developing, and operating three Subway restaurants. In later years he bought and sold RV trailers and was always the consummate deal maker.
Throughout his life, David was very involved in his community. He was a very active member of multiple synagogue boards and committees across several decades, later became an active member of his condo board, and ultimately continued to share his opinions and ideas as a resident of both the Courtyards and the Simkin Centre.
David enjoyed his down time and valued his relationships with family and friends. He loved simple things, like Sunday drives with Sheila. He relished weekly lunch and regular casino dates with Auby and enjoyed travelling with Sheila and his siblings and their spouses. David and Sheila enjoyed many holiday meals at Brenlee and Michael’s home over the years and made wonderful memories at Evan and Ellen’s Loni Beach cottage. Early retirement allowed David significant opportunity for travel, especially on cruises with Sheila, in North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. David owned various travel trailers over 30 plus years and enjoyed winters RVing in Texas and local “Good Sam Club” campground meet ups. He introduced his children to RVing in the 1980s, and later shared his love for RVing with his grandchildren.
Huge thanks to David’s sister Judi Fielding, and brother-in-law, Larry Fielding, who provided David significant support, and significantly improved his quality of life in the final few years. Thank you to staff of Simkin Centre who provided excellent care of David during his final year. For those who choose, donations can be made to the Simkin Centre or Jewish Child and Family Services. Further details: e_bloomfield@yahoo.ca
Obituaries
ANNETTE FREDA MINUK (NEE MASSIE) June 25, 1924 – December 21, 2024
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother who left us peacefully on December 21, 2024 at the age of 100. She was laid to rest beside her late husband Harry at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbears attending were Kevin Minuk, Blake Minuk, Hayley Trenholm, Doug West, Simmie Globerman and Keith Levit.
Annette is survived by her children, Arlene West (Doug), Sheldon (Shoshana), Jeffrey (Harriet); grandchildren Kimberley (Chris) Kevin (Simmie), Blake (Chelsea), Hayley (Chris) and Harel; her great grandchildren Kyler, Krewyn, Charlotte, Annie, Lachlan and sister in law Yetta Levit. She was predeceased by her husband Harry, her parents Rebecca and Dalton, her brother Jack Massie, brothers and sisters in law, Max and Clara Zamick, Norman and Molly Lachter, Norman and Goldie Minuk, Evie and Jack Rosenbaum and Jack Levit.
Annette was truly one of a kind. She was a warm and loving person whose kindness touched the lives of everyone who knew her.
Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to her family always putting their needs ahead of hers. She was always there for all the kids and grandkids activities over the years. She was present at countless milestones and activities, celebrating every achievement with unwavering pride and joy. Her wisdom and compassion were a guiding light, and she had the extraordinary ability to make everyone feel special, valued and deeply loved. She will be remembered for her generous heart, infectious smile and the countless memories that will forever live in our hearts.
Mom will be missed each and everyday, but now she is with our Dad where she wanted to be.
As we say goodbye, we celebrate her remarkable life and the enduring legacy of love she leaves behind. Her spirit will continue to inspire us, and she will always be cherished and missed.
Obituaries
LOUIS ELFENBAUM March 12, 1936 – December 9, 2024
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Louis Elfenbaum. Louis was a popular Professor of Kinesiology at California State University, Sacramento. He taught for 38 years and then retired and moved to San Diego, California, with his wife, Elizabeth.
Born in rural Lipton, Saskatchewan, on March 12, 1936, Louis was the youngest of six children of Abraham and Dora Elfenbaum. With his siblings, Louis braved the harsh Canadian climate to maintain the family farm.
At age 14, Louis moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he lived with his sister and attended St. John’s High School. In high school, Louis was extremely popular, an excellent student, an accomplished athlete, and was voted school president.
After high school, Louis studied at Manitoba Teachers’ College and began his teaching career. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State College in Minnesota, followed by a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of North Dakota. He earned his Doctorate in Kinesiology from Ohio State University in 1966. His early professorships were at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) and prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In 1970, Louis accepted a full professorship at California State University, Sacramento where he taught Kinesiology for close to four decades. During his tenure as a professor, Louis pursued his interest in law, earning his J.D. degree from Lincoln Law School in 1982.
Louis cared deeply about his students, offering a special lecture about life that attracted students not only from his department, but also from the entire university. He valued intellectual curiosity and fostered that spirit in his students as well as his four children, who have all pursued higher education earning advanced degrees.
Louis had a magnetic personality. He was kind, patient, generous, caring, honest and selfless. Those attributes had a lasting positive impact on everyone he met. He was adored by his family including his children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins, who greatly valued his wisdom, his guidance and his unconditional love.
Louis is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lefcort, (pre-deceased by his ex-wife Esther—d. 2018–and mother of) his four children, Adrian Elfenbaum (JoAnne Winter), Ian Elfenbaum (Susan Adler), Marcia Elfenbaum, Pamela Elfenbaum (David Klein), 2 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
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