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CLARICE YENTEL SHELL
Born: May 07, 1927
Date of Passing: May 13, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryCLARICE YENTEL SHELL
Surrounded by family, our beloved Mom and Baba said goodbye at age 98. She is survived by her son Barry, and daughters, Miriam and Ruth, her daughter-in-law Dorinda Neave, grandchildren, Davina and Sam (Elisha) and great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Rose.
Clarice, known as "Cal" was the last of her generation to leave us. She was predeceased by her parents, Joe and Razel Marantz, brothers, Chip (Shirley) and Basie (Shirley) and her brothers and sisters-in-law in the Shell family, Hymie (Kay), Pauline (Sam Zinman) and Bill (Ruth). She was also predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Ben Shell and her son in law, Harry Sumner.
Born in Winnipeg, Cal was a trail blazer her entire life. She had numerous volunteer and professional achievements. One of her legacies was her ground breaking research to earn her Masters degree in Social Work in 1966. This led to Cal joining the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba where she made enduring changes to the core curriculum during her 15-year career.
Alongside her enormous contributions to the community, Cal was devoted to her large extended family. This was evidenced by her attendance at the weekly zooms and every major family event including her last visit to Winnipeg at age 97 for a very special Bat Mitzvah. She was a role model, a mentor, and a confidant to many. A skilled listener, Cal had an uncanny way of engaging others. She spoke her truth, helping to make changes and get things done. Cal knew the names and relations of the entire Shell and Marantz extended families and instead of counting sheep, she would often lie there recalling every single name, in every generation, all around the world, until she fell asleep. Her commitment to staying connected will always be remembered as one of her finest gifts.
In 2015, at age 88 Cal moved to Vancouver to be closer to her immediate family members. We thank the amazing staff and her friends at Legacy Senior Living who helped make the last 10 years of mom's life rich and full. We would also like to thank Dr. Alex Lecky for his years of excellent care, Colleen Riley and the gifted medical team at Vancouver General Hospital, who made her comfortable in her last days.
Cal was a remarkable person who lived a remarkable life. She will be dearly missed by the many people whose lives she touched.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba, of which she was a founding member, or the Cal Shell's Endowment Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. More details about Cal's life can be found on her Book of Life page:
https://bookoflife.jewishfoundation.org
/ebol-donors/clarice-cal-shell
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 24, 2025
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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I was so sorry to learn today of her passing. I only recall meeting Cal twice but it was memorable. I called her with my Mother, Mera Marantz Eisen just a few days before she passed wanting to hear more about the story of her Great Aunt who survived the war. Maybe one of the family knows. My Mother pulled out this old photo tonight - maybe I can post it when I am back on a computer. Karla Eisen (daughter of Mera Marantz) - Posted by: Karla Eisen (Cousin once removed) on: Jun 03, 2025
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Extending our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the Shell family on the sad passing of your family matriarch Clarice Yentel Shell. Thank you for sharing this wonderful and most inspiring tribute of Cal's most distinguished and impactful career and her lifelong commitment to family and community - a true trailblazer! Since the establishment of The Dr. Ben Shell Fund at the HSC Foundation, this fund continues to encourage and support future generations of promising anesthesia practitioners and researchers at HSC. With sincere gratitude for this enduring commitment for advancing patient care and treatment. 'I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being' - Maya Angelou. A life well lived. May her memory be a blessing. 'The true guide of life is to do what is right. Things are not always right because they are hard....I like things to happen and if they don't happen I like to make them happen' Winston Churchill. Sorry for your loss. Lynda Ruban staff and friends at the HSC Foundation - Posted by: Lynda Ruban (staff at the HSC Foundation) on: May 29, 2025
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Sincere condolences to Cal's family. I was privileged to know Cal because my late parents, Addie and Roland Penner were friends with Cal & Ben. Addie and Cal were especially close for most of their lives, including years spent working together at the faculty of Social Work. I always loved Cal's great wit and kindness, and had great respect for her fierce defence of her side of any discussion or debate. I was happy to take Cal to see Addie on her last visit to Winnipeg. Even though my mom's dementia meant she couldn't share memories, she definitely knew Cal to be a friend, and it was a sweet visit. I'll remember Cal with the greatest affection. - Posted by: Kathy Penner (friend) on: May 25, 2025