SHIRLEY REBECCA PERMACK (MARGOLIS)

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SHIRLEY REBECCA PERMACK
(nee MARGOLIS)

Shirley Permack was born April 14, 1932 and passed peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital on July 25, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.
She was predeceased by her wonderful parents, Hymie and Doris Margolis. Shirley is survived by her devoted husband David, her three children and her in-law children, Sheldon (Kishwar), Sharon and Michael (Francine). She was blessed with eight grandchildren and their partners, Daniella and Michael, Laurie and Sam, Zev and Viv, Noah and Toba, Rachel and Daniel, Mika, Arielle and Peter. She was also a great-grandmother to Zachary and Jaxson. Shirley is also survived by her attentive, loving siblings and their spouses, Liba Stillman (Tommy) and Neil Margolis (Elaine). Shirley was predeceased by her friend and sister-in-law Barbara Rifkin and survived by her brother-in-law Saul Rifkin and sister-in-law Sheila Livingstone.
She was connected to innumerable loving nieces and nephews who emailed, called and texted their love for her and detailed their memories of her stories and great laugh. She was always comforted by her new family including grandchildren, Adam MacLean (Chelsea) and Azim Huszar, with the gift of her great-grandchildren, Mina and Aisha.
She spent her childhood in Transcona. In her early years she developed a very close relationship with her siblings that lasted an entire lifetime. Shirley shared a room with her sister Liba until she married David. The family would study with Rebbe Levant who enriched their love of Judaism at a young age. These early years were so important to her and she mentioned them often with great affection.
At the age of 16 Shirley moved to Winnipeg to further build her foundation in Judaism and Zionism. She went to St. Johns Tech after she moved to Winnipeg. The close relationships she developed upon moving to Winnipeg became her lifelong best friends forever. The love she reciprocated to friends and family were paramount to her. Hers would be a life filled with family, friends and a love of Judaism.
In her 20s she was the Executive Assistant to the Director of Manitoba Medical Services. She was renowned for her typing and shorthand. Her boss Dr. McMaster was always impressed with the quality of her work and her commitment to the job.
She married her loving husband David in 1955. She had three children and stayed home to devote herself to caring for their family and raising them in security, comfort and love.
She became president of Kinneret chapter of Hadassah and ORT Ramah chapter which has supported learning for Jewish children as far away as Argentina. Shirley was a charitable person and always prioritized giving Tzedakah particularly the Jewish National Fund and always put money in the "pushkah" when she heard good news or blessings were bestowed on her family.
Shirley had a deep love of the arts. She was greatly influenced in her youth as the family listened to opera every weekend together while she was growing up. She especially loved the ballet and the symphony. Shirley had a melodious voice and she enjoyed playing piano and singing with her sister Liba. Her legendary skills in Mah-jong attracted multiple friends over the years. She was also a sought-after team member for Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit.
Shirley was a very dignified woman who enjoyed life's finer things: fabrics, wool, lace and everything tactile. She particularly appreciated shopping for and purchasing antiques. She was passionate about her collectables: hats, purses, compacts, sterling silver, and she had an appetite for acquiring teacups. She had a real eye for treasures which she shared with her sister-in-law Elaine.
Shirley was a voracious reader and her condo was filled with literature and learning. She was very artistic and was an expert in crocheting, needlepoint, cooking and baking. She created masterpieces with a love of Jewish food. Her nephews were always awed by the quantity and quality of her baking -particularly the honey cake and matzah balls with surprises. She was generous in sharing her Jewish recipes with family and her caregivers. One of her great joys was always having treats for children particularly Smarties and Rice Krispie bars.
Whenever there was a family event and life cycle celebrations Shirley attended no matter where they were. She enriched them all with her legendary laughter and joy. She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and she was sincerely interested in hearing about their lives and appreciated their successes. She always asked about everyone's family and for news and updates on family far and wide.
She continued to amass friends by going to the Rady Centre to continue her exercise and maintain her health even after her husband David moved to the Simkin Centre. Upon moving into the Simkin Centre, and despite her illness, she continued to read and was up to date on the news of the day and continued her involvement in current affairs by watching television news. She was engaged with life wherever she could, and her passing is a huge loss to everyone who knew her.
The family would like to give thanks to the staff of the Simkin Centre, Dr. Wayne Manishen, the staff and doctors at 5B at St. Boniface Hospital, as well to her friends and caregivers, Aida Sy, Lisel Pacete and Ofelia Asesor-Sagra.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 30, 2019