ISRAEL DRORY

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ISRAEL DRORY Israel Drory, 96, at Seven Oaks General Hospital, on December 16, 2007. Israel Drory was born in 1911 in the town of Zelva, Poland, the youngest of four children to Asher and Sara Zelcovich. He learned Yiddish in cheder, Hebrew in the Tarbut School system and Polish and Russian in public school. A self-taught scholar, he was curious about life and read everything in sight. To earn a living, he took up welding as a trade. In 1938, after five years of preparation in Kielce, he changed his name to Drory (freedom in Hebrew), married Itka Sztokman, and together, they escaped from Poland to Israel. Israel worked as a welder, and served in the Israeli army in the port of Haifa. In late 1949, with times very tough, he made a long trip to visit his mother, sister and brother in Canada, and while there, decided to stay. It took another 18 months before Itka, Nurit and Asher could join him in Winnipeg. After five years as a welder, Israel went into the grocery business, first renting a store downtown and then buying Chalmers Self-Serve in Elmwood. With their combined personalities and long working hours, they made the store a success for 20 years. After Itka died in 1979, Israel sold the store and later moved back to Israel. He spent 17 years in the city of Hadera with his friend and companion, Hadassah Degani, tending the fruit trees in the back yard, riding his bike, going swimming, and serving as a volunteer curator of household utensils at the Khan Museum. Illness forced him to return to Canada 10 years ago. Israel Drory is survived by his children (Nurit Drory and husband Sam Knacker, and Asher and Gail Drory); grandchildren (Ronni Kives and great-grandson Shai Belfer in Israel; Cheryl Kives, and Bartley Kives and Katarina Kupca in Winnipeg; and Ben, Judith, and Rebecca Drory in Toronto) and various nieces and nephews, especially Gloria Cantor. The Drory family would like to thank the fourth-floor staff of the Kanee Centre of the Sharon Home for their respect and devotion to our father; also, to all who helped our father during his eight years at the Quest; and to the staff of Unit 2 on the fifth floor at the SOGH for their compassionate care. Funeral services were held December 18 at Chesed Shel Emes, with interment at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Stephen Cantor, Bartley Kives, Michael Koch-Schulte, Shayne Robinson, Arthur Waldman and Jonathan Waldman. Honorary pallbearers were Allan Cantor, Henry Trachtenberg and Albert Calman. Donations in Israel Drory's memory may be made to the Sharon Home, the Jewish National Fund, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights or a charity of your choice. Shalom, Aba. We will miss you.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 29, 2007