RENA RITTBERG

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RENA RITTBERG October 2, 1917 - November 5, 2006 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Rena passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 5, 2006 at Seven Oaks Hospital at the age of 89. She was predeceased by her husband David; her parents Feiga and Joseph Stern and her siblings and their spouses, Sophie and Morris Berkal, Jennie and Harry Tennenhouse, Cecile and Leonard Mushkat and Sidney Stern as well as her in-laws, Bracha Rittberg, Harry Rittberg, Saul and Fran Reidder, Sam and Rose Reidberg, and Art and Eva Reidberg. She is survived by her children, Sondra (Allan) Hochman, Mel Rittberg, Ron (Dawn) Rittberg and Beverly (Ronnie) Miller; grandchildren, David (Marisa), Jordan (Brenda); Sherri (Primiano), David, Jannah and their mother Jacqueline; Rebekah, Taryn; Adam, Oren; great-grandchildren, Lev and Nathan; siblings, Becky (Harry) Rosenberg, Murray (Feiga) Stern, Sam (Annette) Stern, Eleanor Stern, and Sali (Chaim) Ben-Ezra. Rena was a vibrant redhead and had a wonderful childhood with her loving parents and her eight sisters and brothers. She excelled in school, skipping two grades and also enjoyed athletic activities. She was a voracious reader and was always well-informed and articulate about current local and world events. Rena's greatest loss was the death of her husband David. Theirs was a very special relationship marked by devotion, respect, and great love. They had been friends since childhood and were married in 1945 after he returned from serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. After his death in 1962, Rena kept his memory alive for her children, regaling them with stories about the father they had lost so early. These stories became part of her legacy to her grandchildren and through these stories they got to know the grandfather they had never met. Rena participated in a variety of activities. She was a secretary at Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate for many years. She painted, bowled, played bridge and mah jongg, and for several years was the president of a local chapter of the charitable organization, Pioneer Women. She formed friendships all through her life, with some current friendships dating back to childhood, others formed as recently as the past few years. She was open and accepting and in turn was liked by all. She was slow to anger and she forgave quickly. She loved travel and new experiences. She visited Israel several times, cruised the Caribbean, and spent time in Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and several countries in Europe. Rena faced each day with optimism and exuberance. She was a participant in a very full and rewarding life. She was not content to sit on the sidelines. Hers was a life well lived. Funeral Services were held at Etz Chayim Synagogue on Wednesday, November 8 with her seven oldest grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Gey gezinterheit oon koom gezinterheit.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 18, 2006