RUETH P. ZIMMERMAN PORTIGAL

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RUETH P. ZIMMERMAN PORTIGAL Unexpectedly we note the passing of Rueth P. Zimmerman Portigal on September 17, 2007 following a brief illness at the age of 100. She was born on November 15, 1906 in Minneapolis to Fanny and Leon Gottlieb and was predeceased by her parents, her first husband, Norman Zimmerman, whom she married in June, 1929, her brothers Harold and Clifford Gottlieb, her sisters Elizabeth Saltzman and Sylvia Levine and her second husband, Sam Portigal, whom she married in 1976. She is survived by her sisters, Toby Sackter and Beverly Cohen, her son Manly (Janice), her son Ron (Audrey), four grandchildren, Stacey (Evan) Shuster, Wendy (Andy) Jacobson, Mara Zimmerman (Stephen Segal) and Warren Zimmerman (fiancée Paula Hochman), great-grandchildren Ethan and Sasha Jacobson and Samuel and Karlie Segal, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, Sam Portigal's son, Arnold (Elodee) and their children, Leslie (Richard) and Joshua Folz, Blair Portigal, Sydney and Alexa. During her lifetime she was active in many organizations in Winnipeg, including Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah Wizo Organization and she subscribed to the Endowment Book of Life at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba in 2006. Rueth was an inspiration to many for her tenacity to live life to the fullest while she could. She continued to make new friends as she made her way around the city, always on the move. Her presence will be sadly missed, not just by family but by many others. Many thanks to Dr. Kevin Coates for his ever present, continual service and friendship to Rueth over so many years. Thanks also to Dr. K. Baria and Dr. Nolan Finlayson of Seven Oaks General Hospital for their kind attention and care to Rueth during the last days of her life and to Rosetta Copeland for her assistance to Rueth for more than twenty years. A celebration of Rueth's life was held on Thursday, September 20, 2007 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue followed by burial at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. The pallbearers were Evan Shuster, Stephan Segal, Warren Zimmerman, Sandy Sackter, David Wolch and Avi Saper. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a charity of choice or the Rueth Zimmerman Portigal Fund, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, C400 123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, MB R3N 2B2.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 04, 2007