ROSE YAKIR

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ROSE YAKIR It is with great sadness that the family of Rose Yakir announces her passing at the age of 91 on Sunday, February 23, 2003 at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg. Left to mourn is her husband of 61 years, Abe, as well as her children, Philip (Brenda) and Leonard (Susan Knightly) her grandchildren, Beverley Werbuk (Randy Wolfe), Jakee Werbuk (Peter McGillawee), Sima Yakir Feuer (Jeremy Feuer), Joel Yakir, Ben Yakir and Sarah Yakir. She will also be sadly missed by her great-grandchildren, Rachel and Naomi Wolfe and Drew McGillawee and nieces and nephews in New York and Israel. She was predeceased by her eldest son Norman. Rose was born in Brayelov, Ukraine on December 28, 1911, the youngest child of Yacov-Yosef and Chana Gorenshtein. Educated in the Soviet school system, she received formal training in accounting. This enabled her to rise to the position of comptroller of two military hospitals in the Urals. She married Abe in 1941 and at the close of the war, they left Russia for Canada with Norman and Philip. They traveled through Poland, Austria and finally to Germany where their son Leonard was born. In 1948 they arrived in Winnipeg where together they soon opened Florida Sportswear, a mens clothing factory. Rose was a "dynamite" businesswoman who worked hard alongside her husband. She was able to handle the stresses of business life while at the same time providing a home for her family. Active in Yiddish life in Winnipeg, she wrote poetry which was published in the Jewish Post and was read on the Yiddish Radio program. A lifelong supporter of the State of Israel, she was a founding member of a NaAmat chapter and also made numerous trips to Israel. In the 1980s she acted as a "voice of Conscience" for "Prisoners of Zion" in the USSR, facilitating phone calls of support for Soviet Jews who had been refused permission to emigrate. She was fortunate enough to return for visits to her homeland and be re-united with relatives. In retirement she and Abe enjoyed vacationing in such places as Palm Springs, Phoenix and Hawaii. The family wishes to thank those at the Sharon Home who provided loving care during Roses stay there. We are also grateful for the very kind and caring attention she received at Victoria Hospital. Donations in Roses memory may be made to the Simkin Centre of the Sharon Home at (204) 586-9781, in Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 15, 2003