Obituaries
ZELMA GERI KIMELMAN
With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother Zelma Geri Kimelman (née Mindess) on December 19, 2019 at the St. Boniface Hospital.
Zelma was born on August 2, 1928, in Winnipeg, the youngest of four children (Ben, Anne, Ralph) of Fanny and Jacob Mindess, recent Russian Jewish immigrants. She was raised in a large, loving close-knit family and served as interpreter for her non-English speaking parents, who worked hard to make a new life in Canada.
Zel was a vivacious, bright and talented student, excelling in academics and sports, with a close circle of friends she maintained throughout her life. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, majoring in organic chemistry and textile design. She loved teaching and taught for several years.
Zelma met the love of her life, Edwin Kimelman, a good friend of her older brother Ralph, and after a whirlwind courtship, they wed in August, 1949. They had a happy and successful marriage till Dad passed away in 2007.
Ed and Zel raised four children who gave them eight grandchildren: Linda (and Norman – Sarah & Jamie), Neil (and Colleen – Erin & Kyle), Bruce (and Lynne – Samantha) and Jodi (and Glenn – Joshua, Jared (and Mercedes) and Jesse). Zelma adored her eight grandchildren. Family was everything to her. Mom and Dad instilled strong family values and close family ties we maintain till this day.
Zelma was a consummate “Chatelaine”, she celebrated life and family get-togethers, with wonderful cooking and baking and lots of family and friends. She was a talented seamstress creating outfits for all her family. Fashion was important to her, and she was always beautifully dressed in attire of her own creation. She loved to sew, knit, crochet, upholster and create home furnishings. She created several lovely homes over the years.
Summers were spent at their Falcon Lake cottage, Mom and Dad built with help from their friends. She bravely defended us from the bears, who would come calling at our door.
Zelma was a talented athlete, interested in all sports, excelled in playing tennis and golf, most recently at Glendale, with trophies to attest to her prowess.
She maintained a keen interest in the arts and attended concerts, the opera, theatre and loved art shows. She was an avid reader and loved her book club. She and Dad loved to travel and took road trips (with all 4 kids in the back of the station wagon, towing a trailer), cruises and jaunts to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, and Israel.
She played bridge and maintained an amazing social life with friends and family, both in Winnipeg and winters in Palm Springs.
Zelma was devoted to the Winnipeg Jewish Community, ORT, Pioneer Women and the Sharon Home and did volunteer work for the United Way. She and Ed endowed the future of the Jewish Community through a bequest to The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
Most of all Mom loved her family and friends. Rest in Peace Mom.
Our thanks to the compassionate staff at the St. Boniface Hospital.
If friends so desire, donations in Mom’s name can be made to the Jewish Endowment Foundation at 123 Doncaster.
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.
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