Obituaries
Dr. Manuel (Manny) Matas July 5, 1945 – October 30, 2022
Manny Matas was the most kind, considerate soul you could meet. He offered unconditional love to his family and friends, and as a psychiatrist for 42 years, exceptional care to his patients. Manny was born in Winnipeg on July 5th, 1945, the second of three brothers. He accelerated through school at Greenway, Brock-Corydon, River Heights, and Grant Park, where he was a member of the Manitoba winning team on the TV quiz show Reach for the Top. He attended the University of Manitoba, where he graduated from medicine. At McGill University, he specialized in psychiatry, becoming the youngest psychiatrist in Canada at age 23.
Manny worked in psychiatry in Montreal, London, and Toronto, before returning to Winnipeg to work at St. Boniface Hospital. In addition to patient care, Manny was active in teaching residents, and also contributed to the hospital community through administrative roles including Medical Director of Adult Outpatient Psychiatry and Acting Head of the Department of Psychiatry. Later, he worked in private practice.
Manny was a prolific writer whose contributions included scholarly psychiatric works, published in peer-reviewed medical journals, along with almost 300 letters to the Editor in the Globe and Mail. Manny wrote the book “The Borders of Normal: A Psychiatrist De-Stigmatizes the Paranormal”, which was a finalist for Whistler Independent Book Awards in 2019.
Manny was a talented photographer and portrait artist and was an elected member of The Portrait Society of Canada. A selection of his works was exhibited in Winnipeg in 2017 and 2018. A collection of his works can be viewed on Instagram.
Manny loved meeting new people and had a special ability to connect with others. He travelled regularly to explore the world and visit his family. Manny loved movies and books, visiting art galleries, seeing live music, theatre, contemporary dance and ballet. He was patient, thoughtful, and caring, a good listener who offered non-judgmental advice. He was open minded to people and new ideas, and was endlessly curious about the mind and the mysteries of reality. Manny was optimistic, always finding the bright side of things and helping those around him stay positive.
Manny’s family was the centre of his world and they loved him back beyond measure. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Esther Matas. He leaves behind his daughters Anna (David) and Sylvia (Mike), his brothers David and Robert (Alicia), his grandchildren Esther Mae, Asher, and Noa, sister-like cousin Carol (Per), brother-like cousin Lew (Nora), and many other dearly loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. His passing leaves a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew him.
The funeral service was held on Tuesday, November 1st, 2022. An archived video of the funeral service can be found on the Shaarey Zedek website.
The family would like to thank the staff at St Boniface Hospital and Cancer Care. Donations in Manny’s honour can be made to some of his favourite charities: Tree Canada, World Wildlife Fund, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Obituaries
Recent funerals – as posted on the Chesed Shel Emes website
| Dick Bell | Daniel ben David v’Chana | 28/12/1927 | 19/07/2026 | 5 Av 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Reesa Nerman | Rivka bat Shlomo v’ Shaindel Leah | 30/05/1954 | 18/07/2026 | 4 Av 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Garry Israel Frankel | Gershon Israel ben Shlomo Moshe v’Miriam | 14/08/1953 | 13/07/2026 | 28 Tamuz 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Caroline Shelley Raber | Tzipi bat Yisrael v’Ita | 30/01/1955 | 11/07/2026 | 26 Tamuz 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Estelle Meyers | Esther Tzivia | 26/10/1941 | 10/07/2026 | 25 Tamuz 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Alice Grace Lazar | Sarah bat Avraham v’Sarah | 27/12/1926 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Paula Wolfman | Piya bat Mordechai v’Esther | 15/09/1953 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Sharon Ricki Feuer | Sharona Rivka bat Avraham v’Sarah | 14/05/1940 | 08/07/2026 | 23 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Neil Margolis | Nissan ben Chaim Nechemia v’Deveorah | 29/07/1936 | 01/07/2026 | 16 Tamuz 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sheldon Paul Nemy | Solomon ben Moshe haKohen v’Rachel | 01/04/1947 | 23/06/2026 | 8 Tamuz 5786 | Hebrew Sick Cemetery | More Info |
| Murray Kadys | Moshe ben Shmuel v’Bayla | 12/01/1945 | 19/06/2026 | 4 Tamuz 5786 | Beit Chayim Mikdash Shalom, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Ave | More Info |
| Richard Gordon | Yitzchak ben Yaakov v’Dina | 06/11/1943 | 14/06/2026 | 29 Sivan 5786 | Grays’ Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa MB | More Info |
| David Harold Diamond | David ben Avraham Yehoshua haLevi | 08/04/1929 | 09/06/2026 | 24 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Sidney Green | Simcha ben Aharon v’Rosa | 01/08/1929 | 07/06/2026 | 22 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Cecile Kowall | Tzivia bat Shlomo David v’ Sluva Mata | 24/05/1935 | 03/06/2026 | 18 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Joan Hargrave | Chana Henya bat Binyamin Mayer haLevi v’ Miriam Dina | 14/07/1953 | 01/06/2026 | 16 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Irwin Barry Stronger | Yitzchak Dov ben Matityahu v’Baila | 16/09/1941 | 31/05/2026 | 15 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| David Ivan Cohen | David Yitzchak ben Yaakov Moshe v’Sara Liba | 06/06/1956 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Maxine Hochman | Tziporah bat Shmuel v’Esther | 31/12/1940 | 30/05/2026 | 14 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Alvin Murray Zivot | Avraham Moshe ben Yaakov v’Leah Miriam | 03/08/1931 | 27/05/2026 | 11 Sivan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Tova Vickar | Tova bat Nachum v’Yenta | 24/08/1949 | 22/05/2026 | 6 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Karen Leipsic | Chaya Tova bat Kalman v’Raizel | 03/04/1944 | 21/05/2026 | 5 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Phyllis Lee Dana | Fayge-Leah bat Moshe BenZion v’Chaya | 05/10/1936 | 17/05/2026 | 1 Sivan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Betty Brina Simon | Bayla bat Yitzchak v’Miriam | 27/07/1935 | 15/05/2026 | 28 Iyar 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Basia Bayla Fliegel | Bayla bat Leib | 31/05/1930 | 13/05/2026 | 26 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Harold Diamond | Tzvi ben Yaacov v’Chana | 04/12/1935 | 12/05/2026 | 25 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gary Rayburn | Gershon Aaron ben Hersh Ber v’Masha | 21/09/1965 | 09/05/2026 | 22 Iyar 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Ray Schnoor | Raizel bat Ephraim v’Rachel | 13/06/1927 | 05/05/2026 | 19 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Gila Ruth Fainstein | Rachel bat Kiva v’Leah | 25/06/1935 | 04/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Toby Schwartz | Chaya Tovah bat Moshe v’Chana | 16/07/1932 | 01/05/2026 | 14 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Rachel Wolman | Rachel Bayla bat Moshe v’Malka | 03/02/1962 | 24/04/2026 | 7 Iyar 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Leah Gitlin | Laya bat Yosef v’Frayda | 04/09/1926 | 08/04/2026 | 21 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Lin Joseph Rosenbaum | Yosef Levi ben Hershel Zvi v’Dvorah | 17/10/1952 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery | More Info |
| Norman Stein | Nachum ben Avraham v’Chaya | 10/06/1932 | 06/04/2026 | 19 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Marvin Saul Silver | Menachem Shaul ben Avraham v’Chana Gitel | 20/11/1941 | 05/04/2026 | 18 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
| Kimberley Dawn Kirshenbaum | Isabella bat Avraham v’Sarah | 09/12/1969 | 03/04/2026 | 17 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Walter Ganetsky | Zev ben Yosef haLevi v’Tziporah | 23/09/1940 | 02/04/2026 | 15 Nisan 5786 | Bnay Abraham Cemetery | More Info |
| Lorelei Camille Lavitt | Rachel bat Yaakov v’Raisa | 11/04/1936 | 26/03/2026 | 8 Nisan 5786 | Rosh Pina Memorial Park | More Info |
| Melvin Myers | Moshe ben Chaim v’Rachel | 24/04/1936 | 24/03/2026 | 7 Nisan 5786 | Shaarey Zedek Cemetery | More Info |
To see more funerals go to https://chesedshelemes.org/records-of-the-deceased/
Obituaries
ESTELLE (TZIVIE) MEYERS
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Estelle (Tzivie) Meyers, who passed away on July 10, 2026, at the age of 84.
Born on October 26, 1941, in Winnipeg, Canada, Tzivie lived a life defined by love, strength, and devotion to her family and community.
Tzivie dedicated her life to education, beginning at an early age at Herzlia Academy and continuing throughout her career in early childhood education within the public school system. In her later years, she found great joy in teaching adults. Her generosity and commitment to learning touched the lives of many over several decades. She was widely respected for her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. She also found joy in music, gardening, and volunteer work, especially with the Winnipeg Humane Society.
Tzivie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend whose love and guidance will remain a lasting legacy to all those she leaves behind.
Tzivie passed away on what would have been her 66th wedding anniversary with her beloved husband, Ron Meyers. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Jeffrey (Lori), Brian (Fatuma), and Adrienne (Anibal); her grandchildren, Jeremy, Ethan, Amira (Ziyad), Halima, Sara, and Ronen; her great-granddaughter, Bushra; and her siblings, Harvey (Pat) and Karin. She was predeceased by her husband, Ron.
Her legacy of love, resilience, and generosity will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Funeral services were held on July 13, 2026, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek and were officiated by her dear friend and clergy member, Cantor Leslie Emery. The family wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Pat Harris and the team at Palliative Care Manitoba for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society, Magen David Adom, or Palliative Care Manitoba – causes that were close to her heart.
Though she is no longer with us, her love, wisdom, and spirit will remain with all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Obituaries
SHELDON BERNEY
October 6, 1936 – July 28, 2026
Sheldon Berney has died peacefully at his home in Palm Beach at the age of 89, with his wife, Florence Metzger-Berney, by his side, leaving behind a legacy of family and friends, hard work, and philanthropy.
Born to Ada (Loban) (z”l) and Martin Berney (z”l) Sheldon lived an extraordinary life in Winnipeg before retiring to Florida.
Sheldon is predeceased by his first wife, Carole Berney (z”l). He is survived by his wife, Florence Metzger-Berney; his daughters, Dawn and Nancy Berney (Julius Erdstein); his seven grandchildren, Martina Erdstein (Simon Garfinkel), Molly Erdstein, Eli Erdstein, Calvin Erdstein, Tanya Geggie, Simone Geggie, and Cleo Geggie (and their father, Christopher Geggie); and his siblings, Cynthia Wine (Philip Slayton), Naomi Horodezky (Sandy Horodezky), and Carl Berney (Gaynor Berney).
He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday, August 5th 10:00 am at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery (235 Armstrong Ave), reception to follow: Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Shiva will be held at the Fort Garry Hotel – Thursday (10:00 am -12:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm) and Friday (10:00 am -12:00pm).

