MACHELLE (CHICKIE) SHAPIRA (GINSBERG)

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MACHELLE (CHICKIE) SHAPIRA (nee GINSBERG) On September 22, 2014, Machelle "Chickie" Shapira passed away at Victoria General Hospital. She leaves her sons and daughters-in-law, Allan and Gail (Toronto), Sidney and Denise Belanger (Winnipeg) and Jack and Alescha Anderson, (Winnipeg), grandchildren, Leah Zalan (Rob), Andie, Ian and Nate Shapira, her mother Berte Ginsberg, siblings Larry (Minda), Karen (Ted Ramsay), Michael (Barbara) and her aunt Chaika Fox (Vancouver) to honour her memory. She is also mourned by cousins in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto and by her many nieces and nephews. Machelle was predeceased by her father, Chaim, and birth mother, Lillian. Chickie was born, raised and educated in Winnipeg. Following her 1954 marriage to Nathan Frankel (z"l), Chickie and her young family relocated to Vancouver. Her musical talents shone in Vancouver -- as a wonderful pianist, a talented guitarist and a singer. She accompanied Claire Klein Osipov, a renowned yiddish singer, in concerts. She was very involved in the Peretz Shule and was the pianist for the choir. She opened a 1960's Coffee House with her husband. Known as The Attic, it drew top folk singers from the United States. She wrote the song that celebrated the 100th anniversary of Vancouver Island joining the Mainland. It was called Jewel of the West, Beautiful BC. Her maternal grandmother, aunts and uncle and their respective families all formed part of a large extended family and an integral part of community life. Moving back to Winnipeg she married Jack Shapira (z"l) and used her skills to become the backbone of the operations of Rainbow Stage. She was passionate about young talent and giving them an opportunity to learn their craft and started the Manitoba School for Theatre and Allied Arts. That was her baby. All the while raising three boys and making sure they got a good education, teaching them the values of family, and sending them out into the real world. In November 2006, Machelle was honoured by Rainbow Stage for her outstanding contributions to the development, growth and administration of both the theatre and the theatre school. This honour included induction into the Rainbow Wall of Fame. In her retirement, Chickie enjoyed the opportunity to have music in her life all day long, seven days a week, by way of CBC 2 and her vast music collection. Chickie will be remembered for her love for her family and the many dogs that graced her life, for her love of Jewish traditions and music, and for her creativity in so many dimensions. Funeral services were held at Chesed Shel Emes on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., and she was laid to rest at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. The family thanks the extraordinary doctors and staff at Victoria Hospital for their kindness and compassion. Should friends desire, donations in Chickie's memory can be made to the Victoria General Hospital Foundation or the arts organization of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 27, 2014