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Obituaries

TOBY GUTWILIK


Toby Gutwilik edited 2With deep sadness we announce the passing of Toby Gutwilik on April 8th, 2021 at the age of 93.

She is survived by her children Jack (Shari), Hersh (Francine) and Fay-Lynn (Martin), grand-children, Micha (John), Matthew (Desiree), Cara (David), Jonathan (Rachel), Jacqui and Sabrina and great-grandchildren Malachi, Miles and Lyla.

She will also be missed by her nieces, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her grandparents, parents and brothers who perished in the Holocaust, by her husband Mayer and by her son-in-law Phil.
Toby was born in Czechoslovakia and had a happy childhood, loving parents, two brothers and grandparents. She was separated from her family in 1944 and sent to three concentration camps, Auschwitz, then Hamburg and finally Bergen-Belsen from where she was liberated by the Swedish Red Cross at the end of the war in May, 1945. At age 18, she was the only member of her immediate family to survive the Holocaust. After the war, she was brought to Canada by her uncle who was living in Saskatchewan. There she met her husband Mayer who was also brought over to Canada after the war. They married in 1950 and started a family immediately. With baby Jack in tow, they moved to Winnipeg and had two more children, Hersh and Fay-Lynn. They made a new life in Winnipeg and made many close friends who became their family. Toby was very involved with a women’s group of Holocaust survivors.
Toby was a woman of many talents. She was a remarkable cook and baker. Cooking for Shabbat and the Jewish holidays was her pleasure and she made sure to always cook each person’s favourites. She was well known for the best gefilte fish, matzah balls, blintzes, knishes, kreplach, perogies, cabbage rolls, sweet kugel, bubka, latkes and hamantashen.
Kindness and generosity came naturally to Toby. There was always a place at her table for anyone who did not have somewhere to spend the holidays. Her home was open to all. A natural social worker, without a degree, Toby helped many people with a variety of problems ranging from loneliness, poverty or domestic violence.
Toby had a tremendous work ethic. She ran two grocery stores and then worked at the Sharon Home as a dietary aide. Her hard work was motivated by being able to provide her children with as many opportunities as possible and most of all, a Jewish education. Toby did everything with a love of her Jewish heritage. She kept a kosher home and loved hosting Shabbat and holiday dinners and continued to do so until recently.
Family was Toby’s priority. This included extended family and making her home their home. Toby was a devoted grandmother. There was nothing she would not and did not do for any of her grandchildren, including travelling to Toronto, New York or New Jersey to help with new babies, or spending several days a week helping with her triplet grandchildren. She attended all school events and concerts. Nothing gave her more happiness than her grandchildren. She was thrilled to be able to attend all bar and bat mitzvahs and thrilled to dance at each of the triplet’s weddings. She was overjoyed by the birth of each of her three great-grandchildren and thrilled to be involved in their lives in any way she could, which included cooking homemade baby food. She was excited to know a fourth great- grandchild was on the way.
Toby was devoted to her husband Mayer. When he suffered a stroke at age 80, she was determined to make sure he was well cared for in their own home. She focused all her energy on his care and, with the help of dedicated home care workers, was able to care for him at home until the last two weeks of his life. After he passed away in 2014, and her health problems began she decided to focus on her own health to ensure she lived as long as she could. Daily, she walked the track at the Rady Centre, until she was no longer able to. She was proud to manage her blood sugars, weight and cardiac stability. She was the model patient for her family doctors and many specialists she needed over the last decade.
Toby’s smile and loving, caring, nature will be forever remembered and sadly missed by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend their appreciation and gratitude to Toby’s family doctor, Dr. Permack, and to Toby’s team of amazing caregivers, Imelda, Irene, Fiknete, Sathy and Gisele, along with all other doctors and home care workers who have crossed paths with Toby and her husband over the last decade. All of these people greatly enhanced the quality of Toby’s life as she battled many illnesses. The family would also like to thank all extended family and friends who have supported them during this difficult time.
Graveside funeral service was officiated by Rabbi Matthew Leibl on April 11th, 2021 at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were: grandchildren Matthew and Desiree, Cara and David, Jonathan and family friend Gary Levine. Memorial donations may be made to the Toby and Mayer Holocaust Education Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, to the Rady Jewish Community Centre, to the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, or to a charity of your choice.

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Obituaries

Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website

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Cecile KowallTzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata24/05/193503/06/202618 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Joan HargraveChana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina14/07/195301/06/202616 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Irwin Barry StrongerYitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila16/09/194131/05/202615 Sivan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
David Ivan CohenDavid Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba06/06/195630/05/202614 Sivan 5786Hebrew Sick Benefit CemeteryMore Info
Phyllis Maxine HochmanTziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther31/12/194030/05/202614 Sivan 5786Rosh Pina Memorial ParkMore Info
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Harold DiamondTzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana04/12/193512/05/202625 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
Gary RayburnGershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha21/09/196509/05/202622 Iyar 5786Bnay Abraham CemeteryMore Info
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Toby SchwartzChaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana16/07/193201/05/202614 Iyar 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
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Leah GitlinLaya bat Yosef v’Frayda04/09/192608/04/202621 Nisan 5786Shaarey Zedek CemeteryMore Info
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To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/

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Obituaries

DAVEY (DAVE) CHOCHINOV

With his family by his side, Dave passed away, peacefully at home, on February 13, 2026, at the age of 92. Dave was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, father Alex and mother Rose; brothers Jack, Ben, Moishe and Harvey; sisters-in-law Mary Chochinov, Loretta Chochinov, Sherry Chochinov, Marion Golfman, and Belva Shaff, and brother-in-law Ralph Shaff.

He is survived and will be lovingly remembered by his children, Paul (Cathy Carey), Linda (Allan Sand), Sheldon, and Andrea; his adored grandchildren, Alex, Jeffrey, Matthew, Celene (Scott Campbell), Abbey, Claire, Eli (Pam Pilon) and Josh; great-grandchildren, Kate, Jacob, Holden and Hayes; brother-in-law Archie Cham, sister-in-law Shelley Chochinov; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Dave was born on January 15, 1934, the youngest of five sons. He attended Machray School, St. John’s High School and the University of Manitoba, where he graduated from the faculty of Pharmacy. On October 11, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor, and remained married for the next 48 years until Eleanor’s passing on October 17, 2003.

After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Dave opened a pharmacy located in the River Heights area. After several years operating his pharmacy he arrived at the conclusion that he was not happy practising as a pharmacist and a career change was required. In the mid 1960’s, with a spouse, three young children at home and one on the way, he continued working as a pharmacist, then spent a couple of years selling life insurance before deciding to pursue a path in accounting. In 1973, he completed his course of studies in accounting and obtained his designation as a Certified General Accountant. In late 1975, he opened his own accounting practice, located at 1850 Main St. His professional accounting career also included terms as President of the CGA association of Manitoba and Canada. He continued active participation in the accounting firm until 2003.

During his retirement Dave spent his days scanning photos in the family albums and sending them to his children so that they would have a rich legacy of memories to keep and pass on to their own families. When he could not drive for a time, his grandson Alex would be available to take him wherever he needed to go. They spent much time discussing the human condition, vocabulary, music, cuisine preferences, and the good old days. A tough man from a tough generation, family was everything to him. Dave had an extremely close relationship with his four older brothers, and we believe he would say that his fondest memories were the times spent at family gatherings. Whenever there was a big get-together or a Chochinov reunion, he would always remark, “It was great … the family was together.”

He was also a great sounding board for anyone who needed advice and gave quality and insightful input. He was fiercely passionate about family. In his later years he started to compile an all-encompassing family tree and in doing so he discovered long lost relatives still in the old country and ended up opening a line of communication with them. He loved technology as well and started using computers as soon as the first ones were available. He had a unique sense of humor and sent group e-mails of cartoons and jokes to friends and family daily that added joy to the lives of those privileged to be on the email list. It was also his way of staying in touch and letting people know he was thinking of them.

Funeral services were held on February 16 at the Shaarey Zedek cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Chochinov, Shel Chochinov, Alex Chochinov, Jeff Chochinov, Yale Chochinov, Jordan Chochinov, Tyler Chochinov and Matthew Strachan.

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Obituaries

PHYLLIS HOCHMAN

With great sadness we announce that beloved wife, mom, and Baba, Phyllis (Zelickson) Hochman passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Winnipeg.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Paula (Warren Zimmerman) and her one and only granddaughter, Abby, her greatest joy, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Phyllis was born in Winnipeg in 1940 to Walter and Esther Zelickson. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her sister, Sylvia Oberman, and her beloved husband of 53 years, Benny Hochman.
Phyllis grew up on Burrows Avenue with close friends and family. She worked at Leon A. Brown Ltd., an insurance company. Family was at the center of her world. Phyllis devoted her life to caring for those she loved, always making sure everyone was taken care of. Whether it was offering a helping hand, a listening ear, or words of encouragement, she was always there when needed.
Phyllis was known for her beautiful smile, warm heart, and joyful laughter. Her presence brought comfort, happiness, and strength to those around her.
As a mother, she was simply the best, loving and endlessly supportive. As a Baba, she filled Abby’s life with affection, guidance, and countless special memories that will be treasured forever. As a mother in law, Warren was like a son to her and they had a beautiful relationship.
Phylls was 19 when she met the love of her life, Benny Hochman. They were married in 1970 and together they created a beautiful family. They showed their daughter, Paula, true love, commitment, and partnership. Their greatest joy was being together and creating memories with family and friends.
Phyllis will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.
The funeral was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Chesed Shel Emes with burial at Rosh Pina Memorial Park, presided by Rabbi Kliel Rose. Pallbearers were Warren Zimmerman, Dr. Wayne Manishen, Michael Hochman, Larry Hochman, Sherman Greenfeld, and Michael Charach. If desired, contributions can be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, The Simkin Centre, or a charity of your choice.

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