FAIGEL (PHYLLIS) ROSENBERG

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FAIGEL (PHYLLIS) ROSENBERG Faigel (Phyllis) Rosenberg, on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at home surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife of Harry Rosenberg. Devoted mother and mother-in-law of Mel (Shuli), Rena (Yury), Miriam (Benny), and David (Rachael). Loving grandmother of Assif and Adar Rosenberg, Rachel and Alana, Israel, Rivka and Daniel Duanis, and Daniel, Jacob and Michael Rosenberg. Dear sister of Shulamis Tagger. Funeral services were held at Steeles Memorial Chapel, 350 Steeles Avenue West on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Interment at Pardes Chaim Cemetery. Shiva; 120 Promenade Circle, apartment 307, Thornhill. Shiva calls welcome between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Memorial donations, if desired, to The Association for Soldiers in Israel. Faigel was born in Souris, Manitoba on November 19, 1928. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Winnipeg so that she could receive a Jewish education and attended the Peretz School where she immersed herself in the Yiddish, Jewish history, and Zionism that would remain such a significant part of her life. Faigel loved to recite Yiddish poetry and sing Yiddish songs. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba in 1949 and married her husband, Harry, the same year. In 1954, Faigel and Harry moved to Ottawa where she played a significant role in establishing the Ottawa Modern Jewish School, bringing her love of Yiddishkeit to the people of her new city. She was instrumental in developing Ottawa's first Yom Hashoah memorial program. While raising her four children, Faigel also managed to teach kindergarten at Hillel Academy for nearly three decades. In 1982, Faigel and Harry pursued their life-long dream of making Aliya. For the next 27 years, she split her time between Tel Aviv and Toronto in order to ensure that she spent as much time as possible with all of her children and grandchildren, who were the love of her life. Despite battling cancer for nearly 30 years, she never lost her sharp wit and humour, her boundless energy and her ability and willingness to be the center of influence for her adoring family. The family would like to thank her many caregivers. Particular gratitude to Dr. Stephen Shapero for his devoted attention, care and compassion, Susan, who was not only Faigel's nurse in her last year but also someone who became a close confidante. Special thanks to all the other nurses at St. Elizabeth's, particularly Tatiana, as well as the CCAC staff, and the personal support workers who took such wonderful and tender care of Faigel, especially Lillia, Maria, and Juanita, who made it possible for Faigel to spend her remaining weeks in her own home. Deep gratitude to Dr. Darryl Roitman, Faigel's oncologist, as well as Jo Anne and the chemo team at North York General Hospital.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2011