JENNIE RICH

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JENNIE RICH Jennie passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, June 8, 2007. She lived a long and satisfying life filled with many blessings. Predeceased by her beloved husband Abe, she leaves to cherish her memory their five children, Beverly Rosove (Los Angeles), David and Mona Rich, Reva Lerner, Dorothy Kotler and Stan Nowak, and Barry Rich (Vancouver). Her 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren were her special joy, and Grant Rosove (Danielle, Rachel and Jason), Michelle and Stewart Wilson (Jordan and Ethan), Debbie Rosove, Gavin and Avery Rich (Jadon, Asher and Lily), Susan Rich and Josh Greenhut (Jonah and Sadie), Gabby and Bill Brown, Jonathan and Shana Lerner, Ami Kotler, Beth and Esan Azore, and Andy, Jamie, Erin and Dana Rich adored her and will always remember what a great Baba she was to them. Jennie was born in Winnipeg in 1916 to Joseph and Rivka Freiden. Following the premature death of her mother, she was raised by a caring extended family in a home brimming with Jewish culture. She had a special bond with her sisters, Syma Katz (Chicago) and Edith Landy, who mourn her deeply. Her close first cousins, Reva Oman, Norma and Victor Chernick and Shlomo and Marion Mayman (Toronto) will miss her and her presence at their infamous Cousins Club dinners. Both Syma's and Edith's children had a special relationship with their aunt and she was so appreciative that all of them came to celebrate her 90th birthday with her. Jennie was also close to Abe's family and is mourned by nieces and nephews, Paul and Pat Kettner, David and Hillary Kettner (Toronto) and Sylvia and Saul Scott. After attending Peretz Shul, Aberdeen and St. John's Tech, Jennie studied agriculture at the UofM with the intention of going to Israel to work on a Kibbutz. She changed course after one year and instead entered the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing from which she graduated in 1938. She worked at the Deer Lodge Hospital and then as a private duty nurse until she met and married Abe and became a full-time mother. He was the love of her life and they had a long and wonderful marriage. Jennie was a talented woman who excelled at anything she chose to take on. She applied her skills and creativity in her kitchen, her knitting and her handiwork. At the age of 89, she decided to take up weaving and lovingly made prayer shawls for all her sons, grandsons and great-grandsons to treasure. She strongly believed in giving back to the community and was a generous contributor to many charities and institutions in the city. She was a kind and gracious woman who possessed a keen intelligence and dry wit. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed playing Bridge and Mah Jong with her friends. Although Jennie had always been a fiercely independent and private person, she accepted the restrictions imposed by her declining health with grace and dignity. Her courage, humour and patience during this trying time has become the model that we, her family, can only hope to emulate when we face future challenges. Her wish was to remain in her home and we are indebted to Lynne Fineman for her guidance, grateful to Verlina, Leilane, Imelda and Carol for their tender care and thankful for the compassionate nurses and doctors from the Palliative Care Outreach Program who all made it possible for her wish to be honoured. Funeral services were held June 11 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue with Rabbi Neal Rose officiating. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Grant Rosove, Gavin Rich, Ami Kotler, Andy Rich, Stewart Wilson and Esan Azore. Honorary pallbearers were Shlomo Mayman, Reva Oman, Norma and Victor Chernick, Sylvia Scott, Paul Kettner, Barbara Livingston and Laurie, Mark and Martin Landy. To honour her memory, donations may be made to the Friends of the Canadian Human Rights Museum, 1504 - 201 Portage Ave., R3B 3K6; the Abe and Jenny Rich Fund at the Jewish Federation of Manitoba, C400-123 Doncaster St., R3N 2B2; or to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 16, 2007