BELLA LIFCHUS (SHATKIN) BABA

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BELLA LIFCHUS (SHATKIN) BABA It is with unspeakable sadness that the family of Bella Lifchus announce her passing on May 23, 2007 at Seven Oaks General Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer. Bella is survived by her children, Vina (Cera) and Billy, her grandchildren, Ken Cera (Rhonda), Barbara Cera, Bonnie Doering (Grant), Rob Lifchus (Sandy), and her great-grandchildren, Kelsie, Kyle, David, Joshua and Michelle. She was predeceased by her husband Joe, her daughter-in-law Shirley, and her brothers, Tunya and Ookoo. Bella was born in Bershad, Ukraine and immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada when she was 14. She married her husband Joe in 1930. Bella and Joe ran several small but successful restaurants together throughout their working lives. After Joe's death in 1975, Bella kept busy singing at the Yiddish club, entertaining a wide variety of friends, and baking for what seemed like the entire community (the best knishes EVER!). Baba was a beautiful woman, breathtakingly so, but her inner beauty far exceeded the outer she was simply the world's most giving person. Baba always did for others, putting their needs above her own. If there was a friend in need, it was Baba who brought them homemade meals; or a pair of warm gloves; or just the warmth of her company...but she was always there. For us, she was the rock of our family. She had a special relationship with her son's wife Shirley, whom she loved like a daughter. When Shirley became ill at an early age, Baba immediately stepped in and literally became a second mother to her grandchildren, Bonnie and Robbie, who are eternally grateful. When her grandchildren married, our spouses became her children too. Always foremost on her mind was her children. Her devotion to her children, grandchildren, and great-grand-children was her greatest need, her greatest pleasure, and our greatest gift. These few words cannot begin to express the depth of our admiration and love for Baba, but to those of you who knew her, even just a little, her kindness surely shone through and you understand what a terrible loss this is. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at the Chevra Mishnias at 700 Jefferson Ave. Shiva will follow at 832 Inkster Blvd. Pallbearers will be Ray Reider, Ronald Reider, Shale Reider, Norman Morris, Doug West, and Grant Doering. Honourary Pallbearer is Bert Coutts. The family would like to thank the staff at Seven Oaks General Hospital and Baba's long-time Doctor Sheldon Koven for their support. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, or to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 26, 2007