BENJAMIN BENNY BATKIS

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BENJAMIN BENNY BATKIS Today I bury my father at the age of 74. Dad, Ben or Benny (depending on how you had known him) was a man of very few words who was always smiling and asked for nothing. His family (wife Miriam; sons, Billy and Gary), Sunday drink, a good meal and wrestling were all that really mattered. In the good old days Benny was a hunter, avid fisherman, sports fanatic and a bit of a tough guy. By the time Billy and I were old enough to appreciate Dad's stories, the guns were gone, the fishing tackle was covered with dust and the school yard fights were a distant memory. But the stories lived on. Dad said to me (more than once) if you come home with a black eye, someone better have gone home with two. I just ran fast. Billy obviously didn't have to. Dad's love for the Bombers never died and Billy tried to get him out to games until Dad's mobility issues made it too much of a challenge. Dad would remember Billy's football playing days with great joy. Dad enjoyed it more than Billy, but Billy stuck it out as long as he could to make Dad happy. He was always very proud of Billy and was looking forward to his upcoming marriage to Natalie. Growing up, Billy and I had no appreciation for how much Dad's summer vacation meant so much to him. Our annual vacations to Detroit Lakes were a highlight. Dad's work as a second generation fur dresser tested his resolve (we knew he hated it) but he stuck it out until he retired in 1994. Looking forward to trips with Mom to Hawaii, the Shooting Star, Grand Forks or even the grocery store that were unfortunately stopped short due to illness long before his memories and desire to go ever did. Dad was totally devoted to Mom and even up to last Wednesday, when Billy and I were taking him to the Seven Oaks Emergency Department he was lecturing me not to get frustrated. Dad would have done anything for Mom out of unconditional love. He was the strongest man I have ever known (I'd call him No Neck Benny as he was all muscle), but Mom was and still is the toughest and reminded me of this just this morning. The last four years for Benny were tough. Parkinson's, congestive heart failure and emphysema took a toll on him, but he never complained once. Even on Monday night he told me he was good and still trying to work the room with the nurses and Joanne, but I knew different. Mom looked after him until the end. Her devotion was incredible and was to be envied by all. While Jewish tradition would have had him buried on Wednesday it was important to all of us to ensure that his only sibling Razie and husband Morton could be with all of us. We would like to express our thanks to the Seven Oaks Emergency Department for their wonderful care and for their patience with us on the many occasions that Dad came to visit over this past eight months. We are also truly appreciative of the outstanding care and compassion shown by the third floor, unit seven staff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Seven Oaks General Hospital (SOGH) Emergency Relief Capital Campaign. Over the past few years, Billy and I had taken to calling him Benny. All his friends would call him Benny. We were privileged to have Benny as our husband, father and most importantly as our friend. Dad, we're good too Funeral service to be held on Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bnay Abraham Cemetery, 4639 Main St.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 14, 2005