CHAYA SPILMAN KIRSHNER

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CHAYA SPILMAN KIRSHNER Peacefully, on April 14, 2016, Chaya Spilman Kirshner (nee Tessler) passed away at the age of 100 years, at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre in Winnipeg. Chaika, as she was known, was born in Medzerich, Poland, on May 6, 1915, to the late Zalman Tessler and Golda Rosendorn. She was the only daughter among five sons: Sidney, Max, Leon, Morris and Mayer. Her mother passed away when she was a young teenager, and her father remarried. Chaika enjoyed a close relationship with her stepmother, Breindl Guralnick, and in 1930, was thrilled to welcome her youngest brother, Ernie Tessler, who she later raised as a son. Chaika grew up in a loving and close knit family. She married, but soon afterwards Poland was invaded. Her husband of 10 weeks, along with her older brother Leon were mobilized into the Polish army. She would never see her husband again. When the Jews of Medzerich were herded into a ghetto, Chaika arranged to purchase a passport that would allow her to work as a domestic in Germany. Shortly before she was to escape, she had a dream in which her stepmother and her cousin's wife implored her to save their sons, 10 year old Ernie and eight year old Marty Tennenbaum. Chaika found both boys, who were orphans at this point and devoted herself to keeping them alive. Moving from village to village, she eventually made her way to the home of family friend, Nastia Cheremecha. For nine months, Nastia and her family, at great risk to themselves, harboured the three in a concealed and confined space underneath a wooden kitchen oven. Eventually forced from their hiding place, Chaika, Ernie and Marty found refuge with a partisan group and were sheltered until the end of the war. The three returned to Medzerich, but found that their home and land was gone. They traveled to Rovno and then to Lodz. It was here that she met and married Lipa Spilman. In November 1948, sponsored by Chaika's brother, Max and her uncle, Michel Tessler, the four travelled to their new home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Once settled, Chaika and Lipa purchased a grocery store (Bungalow Grocery) and a home with the help of her family. Three years later, Chaika, Lipa and Marty moved to Edmonton to join her brother Leon in his scrap metal business. They enjoyed 15 successful years in Edmonton but with Lipa's failing health, Chaika moved back to Winnipeg to be closer to Ernie, his wife Faye and their four children. Marty had married and with his wife, Ruth, moved to Israel, where they raised four sons. Lipa passed away in 1974. Six years later she married Nuchim Kirshner and her extended family grew. She and Nuchim enjoyed 20 years of marriage, travelling and spending quality time together. In 2000, Nuchim died and within a few years, both Marty and Ernie had passed away. Chaika was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Chaika lived on her own through her mid 90s until she moved to the Simkin Centre where she resided for the remainder of her life. As a Holocaust survivor, Ernie's and Marty's families were her most cherished possessions. She will be forever remembered for her unwavering commitment to care and protect her "children", Ernie and Marty. As a matriarch of the Tessler and Tennenbaum families Chaika leaves her sister-in-law Faye Tessler, cousin Ruth Tennenbaum (Ramat Gan, Israel), their families, and her many, many nieces and nephews and their families, throughout the world, to celebrate a life well lived. A graveside service was held at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on April 18, 2016 officiated by Bill Weissmann. Pallbearers were Efrem Tennenbaum, Michael Tessler, Brett Tessler, Justin Tessler, Brendan Tessler, Adam Donen and Cal Reich. Chaika's family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff at the Simkin Centre for their compassion and care. Those wishing to honour her memory may do so by making a donation to the Holocaust Education Centre Endowment Fund in care of The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre. May her memory be a blessing to all.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2016