EDITH SHPELLER (MEYER)

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EDITH SHPELLER
1928 - 2019

We are sad to announce the passing of Edith Shpeller (nee Meyer) on December 16, 2019. Edith was born in Ochtrup, Germany in 1928.
She leaves to mourn her children, Al Shpeller (Karen) and Susan Goldstein (Jeff); sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Sam Swire; grandchildren, Josh, Rebecca, Ben, Shayna and Laia, in addition to her nieces and their families.
Edith was predeceased by her husband Sam; parents, Max and Frida Meyer; mother-in-law Sarah Rabinovitch; sister and brother-in-law, Les and Max Gilmore; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pearl and Sam Nepon; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Irvin and Mabel Shpeller; nephew Les Nepon; and nieces, Barbara Nepon and Jodi Swire.
After her family fled Germany in 1938 they came to Canada in 1940, where they settled on a farm in Lorette, Manitoba. After a few years, the family moved to Winnipeg, where they operated a grocery store on Ellice Avenue. In 1958, Edith married Sam Shpeller. Sam was a hard-working locomotive engineer for the CNR, who sadly passed away at a young age in 1982. In 1984, Edith lost her eyesight. While this had a profound impact on her life, it did not affect her optimistic outlook.
Edith was a wonderful and dedicated mother, sister and baba. With the help of family, friends and some wonderful care givers (special thank you to Lolita) Edith continued to live in the home she and Sam raised their children in, until the fall of 2019. She moved into the Simkin Centre where she enjoyed her final two and one half months. She will be remembered as a kind and gentle person, who was quiet and easy going, and never complaining. Her faith was important to her and she was a member of various Jewish groups including Hadassah, Pioneer Women and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. She was also a long-time fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and received great enjoyment watching the Bombers win the 2019 Grey Cup. In her later years her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. While Edith was never able to see her grandchildren, she made each one of them feel as though she really knew them and made them feel special. Sleepovers at her house were always a special treat. Her life was a blessing to us and she will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.
Funeral services were held at Congregation Etz Chayim on December 18, 2019.
Pallbearers were Jeff, Josh and Ben Goldstein, Howie and Garry Gilmore, and Barton Faiman. Honorary pallbearer was Sam Swire.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jewish Child and Family Service, Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre or the CNIB.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2020