VICTORIA LEVINE (LIEBERSON)

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VICTORIA LEVINE
June 18, 1922 - May 14, 2019

A women with a loving heart and open arms

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Victoria Levine (nee Lieberson) of blessed memory, on May 14, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Victoria, the Matriarch of the family, passed at age 96, leaving her loving family - two children - Sheryl Levine (Steve Hayman) and Marc Levine (Janice), three grandchildren, Tia Levine, Shawn Levine (Kerrie) and Hart Levine (Michelle), and five great-grandchildren, Ethan, Joshua, Joey, Kaitlan and Christopher. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Howard Levine, her parents, Samuel and Tillie (Toba) Lieberson of Chicago, Illinois, and four brothers, Ernest, Fred, George and Louis Lieberson.
Victoria grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Northwestern University, taking pre-med with the objective of becoming a dietician. This was a fruitful choice, as she later won many cooking contests and established herself as a premier baking queen in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her torte recipes became the classic choices at Bar Mitzvahs in the city.
She met her beloved Howard after being match made by his sister. It was Love at First Sight. Her husband was utterly devoted to her and always said that no matter where they went, she was always the most beautiful woman in the room. They always lovingly held hands even with his last breath, when he passed from a long and difficult illness in 2011.
Victoria's objective was to be the consummate homemaker, wife and mother, and achieved that goal with verve and great style. Everyone from the neighbourhood would make excuses to come over to experience her hospitality.
Victoria was a big supporter of the Arts such as Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Theatre Centre and the symphony. She was an avid sports fan of the Bombers and Goldeyes since their inception. She was a member of the Women's Auxilary of the Shriners, and the Order of the Eastern Star where she was the pianist. Victoria was a member of the B'nai Brith and Sisterhood of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. She became the President of Misercordia Hospital Auxiliary and was honoured many times for her volunteerism, especially being a buyer for their gift shop. Her exquisite taste in choosing the inventory resulted in raising enough funds to buy valued equipment for birthing rooms and diagnostic equipment.
Victoria's pride and joy were her children, Marc, an accomplished lawyer and a Mason, and her very devoted daughter, Sheryl, B.N. who was her main caregiver. She made sure that Victoria always enjoyed life and took her out every night. Her granddaughter, Tia Levine, lived with Victoria and considered her baba to be her role model to guide her future.
Her son-in-law, Steve Hayman was the solid foundation of her family, quietly and efficiently taking care of all the necessary things to make the household function properly.
Thank you to her many caregivers and support teams such as Irena, Christa and Cindy that were regularly over, and stayed longer than necessary to provide the comforts of life to her.
A special thanks goes out to "Her Angel" Girlie Santos, her devoted companion. Along with her daughter, they literally were her breathe of life, encouraging her and supporting her every inch of the way.
Services were held May 16, 2019 at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. Pallbearers were Marc, Shawn and Hart Levine, Cole Leinburd, Ron Cantor and Darryl Kreel.
Donations may be made to the Victoria and Howard Levine Memorial Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 18, 2019