LEAH SHEPS (WOLFSON)

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LEAH SHEPS (WOLFSON) With great sadness, we announce the sudden passing of our mother in her sleep early Friday morning, November 8, 2013 at the Simkin Centre in her 97th year. Leah was predeceased by her husband and true partner, Sidney in April 2000, and most recently by her sister, best friend and bridge partner, Pearl Yaffe in August 2013. Leah will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Carrie, son David, grandchildren Jamie Lynne and Dianna Woodcock, Douglas and Daisy Sheps, son-in-law David Woodcock and daughter-in-law Heather Taylor. Also remembering her are her niece Pat Kettner, with whom she shared a special relationship, and our uncle Sheldon Sheps who always made a point of visiting his sister-in-law whenever he came to Winnipeg. Her many nieces and nephews will miss her as well. Leah grew up on a farm in Rumsey, Alberta, with her siblings Rose, Sam, Haishie, Ed, Phillip, and Pearl. As the tomboy of the family, she spent a great deal of time with her brother Phil, driving the pickup truck (in spite of her young age), playing baseball, golfing and honing her bridge skills. The family moved to Calgary when Leah was a teenager, and after graduation she was employed at a radio station as program director. While visiting her sisters in Winnipeg, Leah was introduced to Sidney Sheps. They were married after a three month whirlwind romance and were together for 56 years, until Sidney's death in 2000. Our mother was very devoted to her husband and her children. Her life revolved around her nuclear and extended family. Leah doted on her parents, and she and her two sisters had them move from Calgary to Winnipeg so they could look after them in their old age. She loved to entertain and was an extraordinary cook and baker. Leah was a great help to our father, working with him at his business S.G. Sheps & Associates Ltd. and assisting him with the planning of the memorable group tours they took around the world. Some of the places they visited included Switzerland, China, Japan, Australia, Fiji, Yugoslavia, Russia, Israel, and the British Isles. We have wonderful memories of boisterous family get-togethers with our many cousins, aunts and uncles. Summers were enjoyed at the cottage at Falcon Lake with our mother the ultimate hostess, welcoming family, friends and her children's friends with open arms and delicious meals. We went on many memorable road trips with the world's worst driver at the wheel, while our mother remained calm and steady, reading the maps while attempting to direct Sidney in the right direction. Leah's happiest moments were when her grandchildren started arriving. They were the lights of her life. Jamie and Dianna were very close to her and the three of them would go out for lunch weekly. They have wonderful memories of spending summers at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa. While Douglas and Daisy saw her less frequently, they received the same unconditional love. Leah enjoyed a long and exciting life. She was an energetic force to be reckoned with and was totally independent until 2003, after hip surgery made it impossible for her to live in her own home. She moved to the Portsmouth, where she had many friends, and played bridge three times a week. Last March, Leah moved to the Simkin Centre, where she was well taken care of. We especially want to thank nurses Maureen and Roma, who were very kind and patient with her during her eight month stay there. As Rabbi Green mentioned in his eulogy "the world as it was with Leah will not be the same without her". We loved her dearly and are blessed to have such wonderful memories to cherish. Mom, you will never be forgotten. A graveside funeral was held Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Donations in Leah's memory can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Humane Society, or to one's charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 14, 2013