IRENE NAOMI WISHNICK

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IRENE NAOMI WISHNICK It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Irene Naomi Wishnick, our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and dear friend on December 29, 2002, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Irene was born to Esther and Delbert Lord in Kansas City, Kansas on October 8, 1922. Irene was predeceased by her husband Mickey Wishnick and her parents. She is survived by her daughter Patti Cohen and husband Arthur Blank (Winnipeg), son Robert Cohen (Chicago), beloved grandchildren Dov and Zev Blank, step-daughters, Carolyn Golden (Arizona), Jean Wishnick King (Nashville), sister Winnifred Blackmer (Kansas City, KS), niece Pamela Hill, nephew Gary Blackmer (Kansas City). She is also mourned by her ex-husband and life-long friend, Gilbert Cohen (Chicago) as well as by her close friend Pat Pepe (Kansas City). Irene was fun-loving and had a keen sense of humour. Everyone who knew her enjoyed her fun loving nature. She was a wonderful friend, mother, and grandmother. She had a keen sense of fairness and could not abide injustice or prejudice. She taught her children to look at people for who they are and not by the colour of their skin. Irene was an independent woman who had a dancing career in her early life and went back to work when her children were older to ensure that they could get a university education. She held education in the highest regard. As a young mother with two children, Irene did not hesitate to care for and support the senior members of both her family and her in-laws as their health faltered. Caring for her family, either physically or financially, was an important part of her life and her example had a strong influence on her family. Family was most important to her. Irene was buried on December 31, 2002 at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. A wonderful thank you to Rabbi Peretz Weizman who officiated. Honoured pallbearers were: Dov Blank, Zev Blank, Chuck Axelrod, Dan Hryniuk, Don McIntosh, Richard Altman, Lanny Silver, and Barb Findlay. Thank you to the staff, doctors, and nurses of the 6th floor dialysis unit of the Health Sciences Centre. Great appreciation during this time goes to Dr.s Penner and K. Bernstein. Also a great big thank you to Demetra Soter, who helped so much in the last few months of Irenes life, both as a pillar of support and a great mover. We will always miss our mother and grandmother.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 29, 2003