TILLIE GOREN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

TILLIE GOREN It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the passing of Tillie Goren on May 24, 2014, at the age of 82, at the Riverview Health Centre Palliative Care Unit. The strength of Tillie's resolve was measured by her fight with Breast Cancer for over 30 years. She was a fighter right to her last breath! She passed in the loving embrace of her family who were with her at her bedside. Tillie was born on the family farm in Lipton, Saskatchewan on August 20, 1931. She was predeceased by her father and mother Abe and Dora Elfenbaum, and brothers Jack and Hy. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Norman Goren. They were married on July 30, 1950 in the town of Hoffer, Saskatchewan and moved to Winnipeg shortly after. Other than for a few days, they were never apart. She is also survived by her brothers and sister Joe Elfenbaum (and his wife Bernice), Sylvia Segal (and her husband Albert Segal ...deceased) of Winnipeg, and her brother Louis Elfenbaum (and his wife Elizabeth Lefcort) of San Diego. Tillie and Norman raised three sons who, with her guidance and support, became successful professionals: Monty, Steve (and his wife Donna Chudnow) who reside in Toronto and Brent (and his wife Julie) who reside in San Marcos, California. She was the proudest grandparent to Rachel and Dayna Goren of Toronto and Jennifer and Cierra Goren of California. Although growing up in the farming community of Lipton, Saskatchewan and having survived polio, she thrived and succeeded in many sports and leadership roles in her time as a teen. She was the Valedictorian of her graduating class. She knew when she first met Norman that she was going to marry him. They soon moved to Winnipeg as a couple to start a family and became active in building a strong Jewish Community in the "North End". The house she chose to raise her children became the focal point for the whole family including aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins and friends, and the entire neighbourhood of children. Her door was always open. Caring for the elderly was a natural motivation for her and she developed, through a Federal Government grant program, "The Senior Citizen Transportation Service". This was the precursor to what is now known as "Handi-Transit". She was nominated by the community for, "Woman of the Year", for her work in bringing to an end the price war battle by major supermarkets that were hurting the small business community. Tillie and Norm ran a successful shoe business which started out with three stores: St. James, East Kildonan and finally just in St. Vital. They had a loyal and devoted clientele because they knew about the importance of individualized customer service and ran the store until retirement. Tillie was an "Empath" and once again, she was always looking out to help people in need whether it is advice on helping with life experience decisions or just an ear to listen. She would say that God didn't give you two ears and only one mouth for nothing. Without anything but true life experience, she had the precognition to open a practice where she would assist many people in their private struggles to become healthier. We now call that "Wellness Therapy". She continued that until her battles with Cancer returned about six years ago. Again with Premonition and Precognition', she grew up with a unique ability to sense the patterns of precipitation. She was renowned for this talent yet would not overtly display her projects to assist areas of drought publically. She was very humble about her talents. However, in her typical matter of directness, she would dismiss perceptions of new age mysticism pejoratively and announce that she is no different than any one else. "Just born with a gift"! And she truly was according to Bob Fingado, The Chief Engineer of the Drought Information Center and Water Resources of the Palm Springs County. He contacted her directly in March of 1993 after seeking her assistance in others states like Florida and previous successes in Sacramento in 1986. The drought stricken county was blessed with what was described as the "March Miracle" just days after his contacting Tillie and her focusing her efforts to bring rain. There was over 12 inches of rain that fell in some communities. She would later receive citations from the Governor of California, Pete Wilson, commendations from the staff of David Letterman, as well as from Elizabeth Taylor. Tillie had projects but nothing compared to her desire to see that her children grow up to be well educated and had the love and support needed to navigate the world independently. She stressed that distance is never a reason to forget where you came from and the values that took you there. Family, tradition and home were everything to her and it was a large tent. It was filled with friends, relatives, brothers, sisters, her sons, her daughters-in-law and her granddaughters who she loved and cherished so much. She was the strongest inspiration for those who loved her because she would never give in to the cancer afflicting her body. She was a survivor in the truest sense of its meaning. And with her struggles came a stronger spiritual thankfulness for the love she received. She lived a simple life filled with the dreams that every parent wishes for. A dream that the only thing that you can take with you from this world is the knowledge that part of your soul will be forever embraced by those that loved you. A special thank you is to be expressed to the full team of Palliative Care workers who helped her at home and through her last stages while at the Riverview Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit (3 East). These people dedicate their careers to honour the lives of those they are attending to with respect, compassion and dignity. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks donations in her memory be made to the Riverview Health Centre.
Publish Date: May 31, 2014

TILLIE GOREN It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Tillie Goren on May 24, 2014 at Riverview Hospital. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Congregation Etz Chayim at 123 Matheson Ave. East. Shiva will be Tuesday, May 27, 2014 7:00- 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00- 9:00 p.m. 314 Boreham.
Publish Date: May 26, 2014

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 31, 2014