Obituaries
YETTA LEVIT
With heavy hearts and much love, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Yetta Levit, at the age of 96.
Mom was born on May 6, 1928, into a close-knit orthodox family with three sisters and two brothers. She attended William Whyte School, Talmud Torah night school and St. John’s Tech. During her youth she was involved in Young Judea and was later active in the I.L. Peretz School. She met our dad Jack when she was 18 and they married four years later. They had three children.
Mom had a gift for seeing the good in everybody. Her welcoming smile and the way she truly listened made everyone feel special. She lit up the room with her warm, vivacious personality.
She was young at heart and had an incredible zest for life. Her energy was remarkable. Everything was a new adventure that she couldn’t wait to undertake. Every person was a rich encounter.
Mom had a special love for little children. She effortlessly engaged with them and always made them smile and feel special. Her appreciation for beauty extended to everything in nature. She never missed an opportunity to admire colourful flowers or marvel at a Banyan tree in Hawaii. She taught us to slow down and see the world through her eyes, always pointing out the beauty that surrounded us.
As our family record keeper, she lovingly recorded every detail of our lives. She was unbelievably organized. Once when we asked to find an invoice from her wedding five decades earlier, she located it within minutes.
Theatre and music were a big part of her life. She had season’s tickets to the opera, to MTC, to the ballet and to the symphony. In later years, when illness slowly diminished her mobility and spontaneity, her strength of character and good, calm nature remained. Music comforted her and she attended the Stay Young Club and Gwen Secter.
Mom built a close-knit Jewish home full of Yiddishkeit and Zedakah – her focus always being on keeping the family close. Friday night dinners were very special with all the children and grandchildren gathered around, lighting the shabbat candles. Mom especially enjoyed sharing shabbat and holiday dinners with her siblings. It gave her such pleasure being the hostess at these simchas – she just sparkled!
Mom was a very devoted and loving daughter to her parents, Tybel and Beryl. Her dedication to them as unparallelled, which she demonstrated by caring for them with compassion, patience and unwavering commitment. She also treated our dad’s parents, Velodie and Molly, as her own.
Mom and dad spent 64 wonderful years together until his passing in 2014. She was always there to support Dad’s many creative business endeavours. Her wise counsel helped make everything easier. The saying “behind every great man is a great woman” couldn’t be more true.
Travel was an enjoyable and important part of her life. She loved our family trips where she was excited to expose us to different cultures, different geography and different experiences. She also loved travelling with her siblings and friends.
Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband Jack, parents, Tybel and Beryl Minuk, sisters, Molly Lachter (Norman), Clara Zamick (Max), Evie Rosenbaum (Jack) and brothers, Harry Minuk (Annette) and Norman Minuk (Goldie); her parents-in-law. Molly and Velodie Levit and sister-in-law Eva Moser (Leo). She was the last of a very close-knit family.
She is survived by her children, Diane (Raymond), Shelley (Jaye) and Keith (Linda), her grandchildren, Brent (Anna), Tara (Jed), Darren, Hannah, Marina, Vanessa and Natasha and her great-grandchildren, Micah and Ivy and many nieces and nephews.
We are extremely grateful for the kindness and gentleness shown by mom’s wonderful caregivers, many of whom have felt like extended family to us. They are Marga Torres, Terry Cristobal, Nancy Bilibli, Lorenza del Rosario, Sally Magana, Fe Yap, Cathy Tan, Ginah Guaro and Evelyn Dela Cruz.
We also extend special thanks to Dr. Fotti and family friend Dr. Manishen for their genuine compassion and concern.
Pallbearers were Raymond Hall, Darren Hall, Brent Calnitsky, Jaye Miles, Sheldon MInuk and Mark Golub.
Mom lived her life as a beacon of selflessness. Her heart had room for everyone.
Mom, you gave us so much. You taught us to love deeply, to cherish family and family traditions, and to find joy in the simplest things.
You are loved beyond measure. You will be missed. You will be remembered.
Obituaries
LOUIS COLISH FEBRUARY 15, 1945 – APRIL 23, 2025
With great sadness, we announce the unexpected passing of Louis Colish at the Health Sciences Centre, surrounded by friends. He was predeceased by his parents, William (Bill) and Bessie, whom he deeply cherished. Loui considered his father to be his best friend and he was a devoted caregiver to his mother in her later years.
Born in Winnipeg on February 15, 1945, Louis grew up in Garden City. He had a long and fulfilling career as a Reference Librarian at the West Kildonan Library, where he assisted countless patrons with their questions. Even in retirement, people he would meet often recognized him as “the librarian”.
Louis cherished his relationships with his family and friends. Those who had the privilege of knowing him described him as incredibly friendly, one of their favourite people, and simply the nicest guy.
A lifelong learner, Louis treasured his extensive book collection, with a particular love for astronomy and the works of Carl Sagan. He delighted in sharing stories of his travels to Europe, Hawaii, Arizona, Disney World, and his most cherished destination, Israel. He also enjoyed attending his bowling league, the Rady JCC’s senior program, and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. He loved music from the 1940s and 50s and delighted in performing his favourite tunes in talent shows at the Rady JCC and Gwen Secter programs.
Louis was a devoted member of the Rosh Pina and Etz Chayim synagogues. Fellow congregants fondly remember his passionate and dramatic chanting of the Prayer for Peace from the bimah—a heartfelt expression of his deep hope for a peaceful world.
A graveside service was held on April 25, 2025, at Rosh Pina Memorial Park.
Louis was a kind and generous soul who will be missed but never forgotten.
Obituaries
HERB SINGER
Peacefully, with his family by his side, Herb Singer passed away on April 3, 2025.
He is survived by his daughters, Leslie (Sheppy Coodin), Marnie and Sheryl (Kevin Segall). He is also survived by grandchildren, Josh Glow (Leah), Sari Glow, Justin Segall and Hayden Segall, his brother Earl (Mimi), and sisters-in-law, Maureen Steinfeld (Leo) and Bonnie Dressler (Kenny). He was predeceased by his wife Myrna, his parents, Anne and Dave Singer and in-laws, Irma and Harry Nepon.
Herb was born on February 26, 1944, in Winnipeg and spent his early years on the family farm in Ratcliffe, Saskatchewan before the family moved into the city, eventually settling on Smithfield in the North End.
Herb attended West Kildonan Collegiate, excelling in both academics and sports. Herb and Myrna grew up between Salter and Aikins but did not attend the same high school because the back lane between Smithfield (where Herb lived) and McAdam (where Myrna lived) was the dividing marker for St. John’s and West Kildonan. They met in 1960, having been introduced by a neighbour of Myrna’s who was friends with Herb. It was love at first sight; they married in 1966 after graduating from the University of Manitoba.
Herb received his CA designation in 1972. He began his career in public practice but then switched to working as the controller of GIII Limited, which he said allowed him to spend more time with his family.
Herb and Myrna loved spending summers with their girls travelling to Detroit Lakes with other Winnipeggers. Later years found the family travelling campgrounds in Canada and the US in the trailer and finally settling in for summers at Gimli, where the family has happy memories of days at the beach and nights by the campfire.
Herb was an athlete all his life; he played basketball and football as a teenager and then played squash, tennis, racquetball and golf as an adult. Herb spent much of his retirement on the golf courses with friends and grandchildren and also loved his bowling league.
Herb and Myrna loved travelling and together explored China, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, England and Israel just to mention a few places.
Herb was an extremely social person and connected with many people over the years through golf, bowling, bridge and through winters in Palm Springs.
Herb was a supporter of community organizations over his years. He helped organize fundraising dinners for Talmud Torah when his children were students, he was umpire at his girls’ baseball games and in later years, he helped with fundraising at Congregation Etz Chayim, particularly with the yearly Golf tournament as well as the Lottery Brunch. He also donated blood well over 100 times.
His most rewarding role was that of Zaida. He loved spending time with his grandchildren whether it was attending concerts, games or marking a special occasion. He would always make sure his freezer was full of meatballs and ice cream and his cupboard was full of treats for their visits.
Herb loved watching sports on TV and rarely missed a Bomber or Jets game. He particularly enjoyed watching with his family and friends and thought himself an excellent armchair coach!
A funeral service was held at Chesed Shel Emes with burial at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on April 4, 2025.
Those who are wishing to honour Herb are encouraged to make a donation in his memory to Congregation Etz Chayim or to the charity of their choice.
Obituaries
YHETTA MIRIAM GOLDCM, OM, BA
September 3, 1929 – April 25, 2025
Yhetta passed away at home on her own terms.
As per her wishes, there will be no service.
The family would like to thank Realcare Inc, particularly Kristina, Ana, Agrima and Chantal for their compassion and expertise.
For those that would like to make a donation in her memory, please consider a gift to the Yhetta Gold Campership Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3N 2B4, jewishfoundation.org, or to a charity of your choice.