NELLI ROTBART KAPTSAN

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NELLI ROTBART KAPTSAN Nelli Rotbart Kaptsan passed away on February 25, 2018, in Winnipeg, after a brief illness. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sima and Stephen Chapman, her granddaughter and her husband, Jessica and Grant Morgan, and her grandson, Daniel Chapman. Nelli was predeceased by her parents Lazar and Yocheved, and sisters Sima and Eva. Nelli was born in Bojmie, Poland on July 4, 1930. She enjoyed living on a small farm and was an adventurous, vibrant and joyful child. She developed a life-long passion for reading. After the start of the Second World War during the Holocaust, Nelli and her family were forcibly relocated to the Ghetto in Wengrov for the crime of being Jewish. Her father led the family in an escape and spent the next years in hiding prior to him, his wife and oldest daughter, Sima, being betrayed and murdered. Nelli then began to hide in the woods, and later, thanks to her will to survive, as a maid in a local household. At the conclusion of the war, Nelli decided that she was going to move to the Soviet Union where she could take part in a special program of the education of war orphans. She also found out that her one surviving sister, Eva, and her aunt Miriam were now living in Winnipeg, Canada. She completed her studies as a Librarian and met and married Aron Kaptsan in Odessa, Ukraine. They relocated to Liepaja, Latvia where her daughter, Sima (named after her older sister), was born in 1961. Nelli continued to work as a librarian until she was dismissed in 1980 following her application to move to Canada. The two years before they were permitted to leave were very difficult for Nelli and her family, but on May 17, 1982 they departed the USSR and arrived in Winnipeg to reunite and meet family that had been apart for 37 years. Her sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Paul Berger were instrumental in this reunification. Her and her family's gratitude and love for them was, and always will be, immense. Nelli worked as a babysitter and librarian for several years prior to her retirement. She devoted herself to Sima, Stephen, Jessica and Daniel cooking massive quantities of their favourite delicacies, babysitting, and spending time with her grandchildren on Friday nights. She continued her passion for reading, making weekly trips to the West Kildonan and Millenium libraries. This habit was maintained until shortly before her death. Nelli was a proud woman who fought hard to maintain her independence for as long as possible. She moved in with Sima's family several years ago and insisted on cooking and cleaning for herself. She was an amazing, strong and loving lady who nevertheless was always haunted by her past. She describes her experiences in her book "Out of the Fire". She was also an artist and her paintings of nature will always be treasured by her family. The family would like to thank the Emergency Ward staff at Seven Oaks Hospital for their care and kindness during her last days. They also thank Adina Lungen of the Jewish Child and Family Service for her constant assistance and friendship. At Nelli's request, cremation has taken place and there will be no service. Those who wish may make a donation to the Jewish charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 03, 2018