CLARA MELNICER

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CLARA MELNICER Clara Melnicer passed away peacefully, in her children's hands, and with her loving family around her, on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at the Simkin Centre - Sharon Home. Clara was an extraordinary woman. Although diminutive in stature, she had a gigantic heart and enormous capacity to love and nurture everyone who knew here, and most particularly her family. The epitome of the wonderful Jewish mother. It was as if all the family members she had lost in the Holocaust were reborn again for her, in her late husband Morris (Moishe); her children, Rafael (Ralph) Melnicer (Sharon) and Brenda Gibson (Don), and her beloved grandchildren, Joanna McMaster (Jason), and Marc and Shaun Gibson. Despite her long hours and seven-day work weeks operating their business, Ches-Way Grocery, together and successfully with Morris, she still managed to maintain a wonderful, warm, love-filled home for her family, and to gain a reputation as a superb cook, without ever opening a recipe book. Traditional dinners and celebrations at her home were gourmet delights and family highlights. When she and Morris retired happily to their cottage at Winnipeg Beach and Miami, Florida condominium, they still remained the magnet for family and friends ... and unparalleled loving support for each other. They could still be seen, after 57 years of happy married life, walking their neighbourhoods hand in hand. A true love story ... a testimonial to the parents, brothers and sisters they themselves never saw again after their childhood. It seemed almost a mission to them to provide this family joy for their children and grandchildren ... and Clara was definitely the strong, dignified hub of it all. Clara was born Chaika Brezner in Vladimir Volyn (Ludmir), Poland, to Samuel Brezner and Brandel Bargman, on April 4, 1919. Her seven siblings were Malke, Itzik, Pinnye, Yankel, Sosha, Pesach, and Wolf. In recent years she moved to the Waverly-Rosewood Village and the Simkin Centre of the Sharon Home, where she was adored by staff and residents alike. Sincere gratitude must be extended to all staff, and especially her kind and gentle caregivers. Clara's funeral takes place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at Congregation Etz Chayim, 123 Matheson, with burial at the Hebrew Sick Benefit Cemetery. If so desired, donations in Clara's memory may be made to a charity of your choice. Pallbearers are Sam Binder, Marc Gibson, Shaun Gibson, Elliot Katz, Jason McMaster and Ken Zelickson. Clara Melnicer will be loved and cherished in our hearts forever.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 30, 2007