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Obituaries

Saul Alpern

Saul (Jonas) Alpern of Winnipeg passed away peacefully on October 26, 2022, with his beloved wife Ida at his side.
Saul was born in 1930 in the Bukovina region of Romania. During the Holocaust, as recounted in his memoir No One Awaiting Me, he lost his parents, Isaac and Rosa Alpern, and his two older siblings, Shimon and Molly. Facing incredible hardships, including forced labour camps, death marches, hunger and cold, Saul was forced to beg and steal so that he and his younger brother, Avrum, could survive.
After the war, Avrum relocated to British-controlled Palestine, where he fell in the new State of Israel’s War of Independence. Saul also planned to move to Palestine and join the struggle to establish a Jewish state, but what began as a detour to Canada in 1948 turned into a permanent move.
Beginning in the early 1950s Saul built a successful career as a cattle dealer. In 1963 he married Ida (née Reiss), and they built a happy life together.
In 2001 Saul published his memoir, which won provincial and national awards and was translated to Hebrew by Yad Vashem. It is not only a gripping personal account of survival against all odds, but also a work of great historical importance, being one of the first books documenting the Nazi genocide in the Transnistria region.
Despite the enormous travails and personal loss that he had endured, Saul had a charming and jovial personality. He was loved by all who knew him. It gave him particular pleasure to help others, and to honour the memory of his parents and siblings, through very generous contributions to charities in Winnipeg and in Israel.
The funeral was held at the Rosh Pina Cemetery on October 28, 2022. Pallbearers were nephews Alan, Ken and Cary Reiss; great-nephews Noah and Charlie Reiss; and friend Nathan Wiseman.
Donations in memory of Saul may be made to the Ida and Saul Alpern Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to the Jewish National Fund.

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Obituaries

DONALD (DON) BASS

1938-2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Donald (Don) Bass on May 14, 2025.

Don is survived by his partner of 25 years Darlene, children, Eileen Fortin (Tim) and Hartley Bass, stepchildren Pyper (Jesse) and Palmer and sister Lynda. He was also a beloved grandfather to Kelsey and Taylor and Zaidie to Rooney and Lux.

Don was predeceased by his parents Abe and Gloria Bass and by his son Jonathon.

Don was born in Fort William, Ontario in 1938. He came to Winnipeg to attend university but ultimately made his mark operating Dutchmaid Ice Cream, including manufacturing ice cream for dairies across Western Canada gaining him the title of “Emperor of Ice Cream”.

During and after operating Dutchmaid, Don also managed rental properties in and around the Osborne Village.

Don was more than an entrepreneur and an astute businessman; he was a man of decency, generosity, integrity and compassion. He treated everyone he met with respect, offering help in any way he could.

Don was also known for his sarcasm and sense of humour earning him the added title of “Real Character”.

Don loved family, he loved people, and he loved his annual trips to South Florida.

Funeral and burial were held on May 20 at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery with the Meal of Condolence at Temple Shalom.

Donations can be made to the General Fund at Temple Shalom or to the Gloria and Abe Bass Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.


May Don’s memory be a blessing.

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Obituaries

Clarice Yentel Shell (Marantz) May 7, 1927 – May 13, 2025

Surrounded by family, our beloved Mom and Baba said goodbye at age 98. She is survived by her son Barry, and daughters Miriam and Ruth, her daughter-in-law Dorinda Neave, grandchildren Davina and Sam (Elisha) and great grandchildren, Benjamin and Rose.

Clarice, known as “Cal” was the last of her generation to leave us. She was predeceased by her parents Joe and Razel Marantz, brothers Chip (Shirley) and Basie (Shirley) and her brothers and sisters-in-law in the Shell family, Hymie (Kay), Pauline (Sam Zinman ) and Bill (Ruth). She was also predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Ben Shell and her son in law, Harry Sumner.

Born in Winnipeg, Cal was a trail blazer her entire life. She had numerous volunteer and professional achievements. One of her legacies was her ground breaking research to earn her Masters degree in Social Work in 1966. This led to Cal joining the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba where she made enduring changes to the core curriculum during her 15-year career.

Alongside her enormous contributions to the community, Cal was devoted to her large extended family. This was evidenced by her attendance at the weekly zooms and every major family event including her last visit to Winnipeg at age 97 for a very special Bat Mitzvah. She was a role model, a mentor, and a confidant to many. A skilled listener, Cal had an uncanny way of engaging others. She spoke her truth, helping to make changes and get things done. Cal knew the names and relations of the entire Shell and Marantz extended families and instead of counting sheep, she would often lie there recalling every single name, in every generation, all around the world, until she fell asleep. Her commitment to staying connected will always be remembered as one of her finest gifts.

In 2015, at age 88 Cal moved to Vancouver to be closer to her immediate family members. We thank the amazing staff and her friends at Legacy Senior Living who helped make the last 10 years of mom‘s life rich and full. We would also like to thank Dr. Alex Lecky for his years of excellent care, Colleen Riley and the gifted medical team at Vancouver General Hospital, who made her comfortable in her last days.

Cal was a remarkable person who lived a remarkable life. She will be dearly missed by the many people whose lives she touched.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, of which she was a founding member, or the Cal Shell‘s Endowment Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. More details about Cal’s life can be found on her Book of Life page
https://bookoflife.jewishfoundation.org/ebol-donors/clarice-cal-shell

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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.

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