Obituaries
SHIFFRA FENSON
An unveiling for Shiffra Fenson was held August 13, 2023 at Rosh Pina Memorial Park Cemetery in Winnipeg.Shiffra Fenson passed away January 4, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with services held at Etz Chayim Synagogue in Winnipeg. Pallbearers were son-in law David Bronstein, nephew Robert Kligerman, great nephew Ben Elkin, Paul Knight, Brian Scharfstein and David Shnider.
Shiffie (as she was known to her friends and family) was first generation Canadian, born February 19, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Sarah (Sedletsky) and Morris Kligerman of Nicolayev and Odessa, Russia. Her parents gave her a loving, nurturing home, traits she inherited and embodied as she was raising her own family. Her father Morris was the proprietor of Kligerman Bindery. Shiffie always remembered his quiet demeanour – but when speaking, a man of deep knowledge and respect for others. From her mother Sarah, Shiffie learned much – patience, the traditional values of keeping a Jewish home and, notably, the art of cooking. It was from her mother’s lessons that Shiffie’s kitchen became legendary. There wasn’t a dish she didn’t master, from the most delicate pastries, to the main courses of the Jewish holidays.
Raised in Winnipeg’s north end, Shiffie attended elementary, junior and senior high school where she made close friendships that would last a lifetime. No matter the challenges that prevailed at the time for most children of immigrant families, she had a happy childhood, and along with elder sister Eva and brother Bill, she enjoyed a home of security and love.
In 1944, Shiffie would meet Morley Fenson, a sailor on leave from his World War II naval duties. In 1946, they married and in the following years would have 3 children; Ronna, Kenny and Carla. Hoping to advance Morley’s business career, the family left Winnipeg in 1960. It would be the beginning of a multi-year adventure that would take them to Tupelo, MS, back to Winnipeg, to San Diego, CA, St, Louis, Mo. and finally back to Winnipeg. During that period Shiffie navigated taking care of her family, making warm, loving homes in 8 different houses and settling her 3 children in over 10 different schools. And yet despite all the challenges, she managed it with the grace, focus and love that were the hallmarks of her life. Somehow, she managed the time to forge her own lifelong friendships at every stop.The family’s return to Winnipeg in 1966 gave her the opportunity to spend time with her family and cherished childhood friends. Her kitchen table was famous not just for the delights of her cooking, but for coffee and conversation with all, not the least of which were her children’s friends who felt her warmth, understanding and compassion.Although steeped in the traditions of the times, Shiffie always had a wide variety of interests. During the day her home was filled with the classical music and news shows of the CBC. She was a voracious reader of books of all kinds, always up to date on world events and enjoyed whatever latest exhibit happened to be at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.As her children grew older and with more time available to her, she pursued interests outside the home, including volunteer work at what was then the Rape Crisis Center and reading to the children at the Norquay School.In 1985 she and Morley retired to Palm Springs, CA where they spent their time hosting friends, and enjoy playing bridge and golf. In 2002 they moved to Chapel Hill, NC to be closer to family. Even at this stage, Shiffie embraced and established new friendships and is remembered there for her lifelong traits of intellect, grace and generosity.
Shiffie was all about family. Even though they were often separated by distances, she would do all she could to ensure that her children knew their uncles, aunts, cousins and close friends. She insisted on travel to anywhere there was a family celebration and nothing would bring a happier smile than seeing all her family and friends together at a celebratory occasion. She took great pride in seeing this legacy take root in her children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren, who remain connected and close.
A woman who lived a long, event filled and gratifying life, Shiffie is predeceased by her husband Morley, mother Sarah Kligerman (Sedletsky), father Morris Kligerman, sister Eva and brother in law Lou Elkin, brother Bill and sister-in-law Selma Kligerman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Leo and Shirley Fenson, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harry and Leah Fenson, sister-in-law Anita Fenson.
We are forever grateful to have had her for all these years, but nonetheless she is so very much missed by daughters Carla (David Bronstein) and Ronna, son Ken (Susan), her 7 grandchildren: Mira, Shana, Ben, Sarah, Joel, Danielle and Jacqueline, great -randchildren Morgan, Preston, Taliah, Remy and her many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Obituaries
MORLEY SLONIM, DDS March 30, 1931 – July 7, 2024
Peacefully on July 7, 2024, at the age of 93.
He will be forever missed by his wife of almost 66 years, Lil. Loving father and father-in-law to Shari (Jeff Shulman) and Marni (Gavin Rich). Adored Zaida Moe to his grandchildren, Dylan, Cory, Samantha (Jake), Seth, Justin (Katie), Jordan, Jamie, Jadon, Asher, and Lily. Devoted uncle, great-uncle, great-great-uncle and great-great-great uncle to his nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his parents, Henry and Anne, and brothers, Sidney and Aubrey.
Born in Winnipeg’s North End in 1931, Morley attended Peretz School, Machray and St. John’s Tech. After attending the University of Manitoba for his undergraduate degree, he spent four years in Toronto, graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry in 1958. He practiced for many years in Fort Garry and retired in 1992. He was able to enjoy more than 30 years of retirement, working out religiously and spending invaluable time with friends and family.
A man of many interests, he prided himself on being able to fix everything he could, cared for his yard and garden, had a keen interest in sports and was a loyal fan of the Winnipeg Jets for many years. He also followed politics and world events, was fascinated by the construction of buildings and loved music.
He was known for his quick wit and sense of humour and tried not to miss an opportunity to make a joke or pun or pull a prank.
The funeral was held at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on July 10, 2024. The family wishes to thank the pallbearers, Abe Borzykowski, Justin Gertenstein, Dylan Huber, Jordan Gertenstein, Jeff Shulman and Gavin Rich as well as the honorary pallbearers, Bryan Borzykowski, David Borzykowski and Josh Chisick.
The family would also like to thank Dr. Hayward and Dr. Vidal for their dedicated care over the years.
Donations can be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, Morley and Lil Slonim Fund at
www.jewishfoundation.org or 204-477-7520
Obituaries
SHIRLEY MORRY
Shirley Morry passed away in Winnipeg on August 20, 2024.
Predeceased by her parents, Sally and Sam Slotnikov and survived by Julius Morry, her beloved husband of 67 years, her loving children, Howard (Hope), Jeff (Sarah), Marla (Ibrahim) and Karyn (Mark), her grandchildren, Josh (Sam), Samantha (Steve), Ben, Matthew and Joel, her sister Helen and nephew Gary. She will be missed by her many cousins and friends.
Shirley grew up in in a proud Jewish home in the fabled North End of Winnipeg. She had a quiet strength, dignity and purpose that made her a loyal friend. Her main purpose in life, as she saw it, was to raise her family. Dad once said to her “the kids are yours until they’re 10”, but 10 years turned into a lifetime, because Shirley never stopped being a mom. She was especially close to her girls, whom she spoke to every day, regardless of where they were. Those calls gave Marla and Karyn a lifetime of love and wisdom. Mom was their champion, their cheerleader, their confidante, with an innate ability to make them feel everything was going to work out. She showed us the true meaning of humility, they said. Mom also loved her boys. She knew the road to Jeff’s heart was through his stomach and made him all his favourites when he visited once a week, more for love and wisdom than for the peanut butter cookies. Jeff defined that wisdom as acceptance, embracing imperfections with an open heart. She instilled in him the value of grace under pressure, he said, a true role model for how to treat others. Early on, Mom entrusted Howard, often with more responsibility than he thought he could handle, which allowed him to aim high and risk failure, a subtle but essential life lesson. The family holds fond memories of summers spent at Falcon Lake and Winnipeg Beach. It is only looking back that we realize our endless summers were made possible by Mom looking after endless lunches and laundry. Howard watched as Mom embraced his wife Hope and his own kids, Josh and Samantha, who developed a close and loving relationship with their grandmother. As Shirley’s only granddaughter, Samantha loved “Bobby” to talk, as she put it. At the end of the day, it was more girl-talk than anything. Shirley loved Jeff’s wife, Sarah, and was so proud of their kids, her grandkids, Ben, Matthew and Joel, who had sleepovers when they were young and maintained a close relationship with Bobby all her life. Shirley was also close to Karyn’s partner, Mark, who was a big support to Mom during her health challenge, as well as to Karyn, who never left Mom’s side during that difficult time.
Shirley was raised by a force of nature, her mother, Sally. Bobby Sally, as we called her, lived on in Mom, as did her dad, Sam Slotnikov, a moral superhero who volunteered to serve in the Second World War at age 32. Shirley was a role model for her sister, Helen, who called Shirley her best friend. Her greatest adventure started when she met her bashert, Julius Morry, at a YMHA dance in 1954. Dad was full of big ideas and knew what he wanted from life, and that included a life partner who would share his dreams. He and his friends were finding it hard meeting Jewish girls, so Dad went to the head of the YMHA and proposed a monthly dance, where he would look after everything. Within a couple of months, the YMHA Dance was attracting 250 to 300 kids a month. A lot of marriages came out of those dances, including his own. He went to one fateful dance with his date, who introduced him to her best friend, Shirley Slotnikov. He remembers exactly what she was wearing, the colour of her skirt and hair. When he found out her Yiddish name was Tsipie, he decided he would never call her anything else. A couple of weeks later, he asked Tsipie to go steady, she said no, she was too young, so he asked her out every week, week after week, and she always said yes. Afraid to ask for her hand in marriage, one day he said, “when we’re married…”, and when Tsipie didn’t protest, he bought her a ring and booked the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. In the end, Mom wanted nothing more than to attend her grandson Josh’s wedding to his bashert, Sam Holloway. She lived to see the wedding ceremony on a live video feed from New York City, where the Rabbi gave her a shout out from the Bima. Mom was so proud of her loving family that day.
Mom, Bobby, Shirley, Tsipie, you are forever in our hearts. You live on in Dad, in us, in our kids, and soon in theirs. We will get through this together, as you would have wanted. As a family. As your family. We are grateful to Rabbi Matthew Leibl, who led a graveside service at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery followed by a meal of consolation at the Asper Jewish community Campus and a shiva at Howard and Hope’s home. The pallbearers were Shirley’s beloved grandchildren and her nephew, Gary. Donations may be made to The Shirley and Julius Morry Leave More Than Memories Endowment at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
JANICE WEGE (nee GOLDBERG)
With immense sadness, we announce the passing of Janice Wege on August 20, 2024.
Janice was predeceased by her parents Gwen and Joe Goldberg. Her legacy features, but will refuse to be limited to, a lifetime of love, wonderful memories and selfless accomplishments. It will be carried forward by all those who had the fortune of being close to her. Her husband: Doug Wege; children and grandchildren: Jeff Wege, Morgan Wege and Marjie McMullin (Riley, Mia, Nathan, Gracelyn, and Chloe); sisters and their families: Maxine and Alex Segall, Susan and Steven Rosenberg, and Elaine and Ed Clairmont. She also leaves behind many who cared deeply for her: nieces, nephews, cousins and life-long friends.
Janice grew up on Aikins Street in Winnipeg, attending Peretz School and later St. Johns High School, Red River College and many continuing education and professional development programs. She raised her family with a loving hand, she was a devoted caregiver, and her children always came first. Janice was a gentle parent long before gentle parenting was a known term.
Janice devoted her professional life to children as well through her work as a Child Development Worker in the Day Hospital program at Mount Carmel Clinic, and later as an Educational Assistant at Lansdowne School. She was truly gifted with both the ability to find joy in even the smallest of a child’s accomplishments, and the patience to nurture those accomplishments into impactful growth. Working with what some would consider to be a “countless” number of children over her career, “Mme. Jan” (as she came to be known at Lansdowne) remembered each one fondly.
It’s only fitting that Janice came to enjoy a large family of her own with five grandchildren. Her grandchildren will always cherish memories of visits and sleepovers with Baba and their excursions to the Zoo, museums, shopping and “Ash’s Park”. She had a special relationship with each of them individually and unique traditions that they will carry with them forever.
A graveside service was held at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on Friday August 23. If family and friends wish to honour Janice’s memory, a donation to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.