TONI (TONKA) KARP

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TONI (TONKA) KARP Peacefully at Seven Oaks Hospital on November 11, 2003, aged 91, with her family by her side. Toni was born in Lvov, Poland to Rachela and Izak Morganstern. She grew up surrounded by books and the love of learning. Her mother died when she was only 12. She had a close relationship with her sister Regina. Toni was an intellectual person and became a high school Hebrew teacher. In 1937, she married Leon with whom she shared an interest in theatre and socialist politics. A Holocaust survivor, she kept herself and her baby, Rachelle alive through her ingenuity and industriousness. Toni immigrated with her husband and daughter to Winnipeg in 1948. She worked in the garment industry and later, together with her husband, she operated a grocery store. Their son Ian was born in 1953. She was a strong, passionate, caring person, with a quick wit and generous spirit. She was fluent in many languages, and later in life attended university courses. Education was very important to her and she instilled this value in her family. She enjoyed sharing her love of dancing, exercising, theatre, and flowers. She was an outstanding cook and was known for her delicious knishes. Toni was a wonderful and loving mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She had a special relationship with each member of her family, and her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Tony overcame her battle with colon cancer. However, not long after, she as struck with Alzheimers Disease and struggled with this degenerative illness. She was predeceased by her husband Leon in 1991; her sister Regina Wachtel of Israel; and brothers, Alter and Kalman Morganstern. She will be greatly missed by her daughter Rachelle and son-in-law Izzy Shore; and son Ian and daughter-in-law Janet; grandchildren, Marilyn (Roberto), Carla (Glen), Sheryl (Marc), David, and Steven; great-grandchildren, Emilia, Silvio, Ethan and Kevin. We wish to thank the staff at the Sharon Home and Borrie Paguio for her compassionate care. Funeral services were held on November 13 at the Chesed Shel Emes. Cantor Judah Smolak officiated. Her son Ian; and granddaughters, Marilyn and Sheryl spoke on behalf of the family. Pallbearers were her son-in-law Izzy Shore; grandsons, David and Steven Karp, Rube Helman, Philip Katz and Arnold Permut. Donations in Tonis memory may be made to the Alzheimers Society of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba or the Sharon Home.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 22, 2003