SHIRLEY CRAMER ZABENSKIE

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SHIRLEY CRAMER ZABENSKIE Shirley Cramer Zabenskie (nee Kogan), born June 14, 1928, in Montreal, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on May 18, 2012, at the age of 83. Shirley was predeceased by her father, Oyzer, her mother, Ida and her son Sydney Cramer. Shirley was married to Nathan Cramer for 23 years until his passing in 1975. Shirley remarried in 1993 to Benjamin Zabenskie until his passing in 2001. She is survived by her sisters Rita Lacoff and Toby Migdalewicz. She will always be remembered by her children, Deborah Chochinov, Hartley Cramer (daughter-in-law Paula Cramer), Owen Cramer (daughter-in-law Mara Cramer) and her grandchildren, Neil Steen, Jeni Ross, Alex and Jeffrey Chochinov in Winnipeg, Blair, Nathan and Tara Cramer in Vancouver and Natan and Aviva Cramer in Israel. Shirley will be missed as well, by her many relatives and friends including her close friend Morris Chapnick. Those who met Shirley could never forget her. She had a large personality, her smile and eyes would light up a room and you would be engaged in either an atypical sense of humour or an intelligent conversation in history, the arts or current events. The true spirit of Shirley was to teach her children and grandchildren the value of life not by words but by deeds, by showing her family the beauty of nature, respect for the arts, the strength of character to defend a wrong and to face life's many challenges directly with dignity and without reservation. The Funeral Service was officiated by Cantor Gerry Daien on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at the Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue, and Shirley was laid to rest at the Rosh Pina Cemetery. The family would like to thank Cantor Daien for his kind words during the service and the pallbearers, Eugene Kogan, Mark Kogan, Ian Cramer, Neil Steen, Alex Chochinov and Jeffrey Chochinov and Honorary pallbearer Morris Chapnick. The family would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Seven Oaks Hospital for their outstanding care, in particular, Dr. Norman Hechtenthal, Dr. Jack Lezack and Dr. Armstrong, nurse Ariel, for the compassionate, respectful and gentle care for our mother, especially in her final hours. The family also thanks nurse Lisa, and the staff at CancerCare in Seven Oaks Hospital, who made our mother feel comfortable and able to smile. Additionally, the family is greatly appreciative of the Home Care staff who provided consistent care for our mother in these last few months. A special thanks must go to the Shaftesbury Residence administration and staff for going out of their way to welcome our mother to her new home for the last three months. Thanks also to Beth, Ed and Eileen, her dining mates, who really made her last few months pleasant for her with their interesting conversation and friendship. Shirley was very supportive of the State of Israel and friends or family who wish to make a donation, please consider the Jewish National Fund. A fund is set up in her memory to establish a collection of trees in her honour.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 26, 2012