SERKY GOLDBERG

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SERKY GOLDBERG

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Serky Goldberg on the 14th of Tammuz, 5784 (July 20, 2024) at the age of 86. Her funeral was held at the Chesed Shel Emes and she was interred at Rosh Pina Memorial Park on July 22, 2024.

Sora Pearl Mozersky was born in Winnipeg and her first few months were spent in the home of her grandparents, David and Faigie Soudack on Cathedral Avenue before moving into the Mozersky home on Rupertsland. She grew up in the North End, attending the Folk Shul, Luxton, Seven Oaks, and Peretz School during her elementary school years, and then St John’s High School. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1958 and was certified as a teacher at Teachers College in 1959.

Serky’s family was cental to her life. She was in almost daily contact with those of us who lived locally, and those more distant were only a visit, phone call, FaceTime or birthday card away. She loved when members of the family came to the cottage in the summer or when she and Benny traveled to Toronto, Ottawa, California, Boston, New York or Israel for simchas, birthdays, or just a visit. Over the years she maintained strong ties with siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives all over North America and in Israel.

Serky led an active social life and had many dear friends. She was treasurer of her Bridge group for over 60 years, participated with Benny in the “The Volleyball Group,” and stayed in touch with her Habonim Workshop cohort throughout her life. Later, she made new friends during winters in Palm Springs and on the various globetrotting cruises on which she and Benny embarked after his retirement.

A product of socialist Bundist Jews, Serky became a proud Zionist in her teens. Her love for Israel was strengthened after spending a year at Kibbutz Kfar Blum in 1954 on Habonim Workshop. Subsequently, she and Benny made numerous visits to Israel, including leading a mission on behalf of the Winnipeg Jewish community to Gan Yavne as part of Project Renewal.

Serky dedicated much of her volunteer time to the Combined Jewish Appeal, serving as Chair of the Women's Division, Chair of the Annual Campaign, and contributed to many committees at a national level. Over the years, she led many local committees and subcommittees that helped assure the vibrancy and continuity of Winnipeg’s Jewish community. The Jewish Federation honoured her with the Max Nathanson Young Leadership Award in 1977 and the Max and Mollie Shore Memorial Award in 2018. She was also a member of Pioneer Women, Hadassah and volunteered as a canvasser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Serky applied skills she learned at Teachers College to teach English as a Second Language to new Canadians throughout the 1990’s, and to inform her service as the Chair of the Board of Jewish Education.

Serky was often found reading a book, magazine or newspaper, knitting, listening to CBC, baking, telling a story or dispensing advice. She was elegant and understated. She loved hosting parties and setting a beautiful table. She appreciated art, music and literature. She loved her summers at the cottage in Gimli. Her phenomenal memory, sharp intellect and perceptive judgment were the source of answers to many questions about the family, the Winnipeg community, Israel, cooking, entertaining, fundraising or really any other topic you can imagine. Her love for us all was a great gift, and she was loved by all.

Serky is predeceased by her parents, Myer and Lily Mozersky and her brother Ken Mozersky. She leaves behind her husband of 64 years, Dr. Benjamin Goldberg; brother Dan Mozersky (Joy), and sister Ruth Grubert; children Harold Goldberg (Alisa), Marty Goldberg (Sharon), and Elana Schultz (Myron); grandchildren, Samuel Wolfberg (Tali), Anna Wagner (Adam), Jacob Goldberg (Kelsey Fenn), Adina Goldberg (Max Levit), Tamar Goldberg (Benjamin Miller), Leora Goldberg, Dafna Schultz, Abbie Schultz, and Liat Schultz; great grandchildren Bella, Maya, Miko, Reni, Bahir, and Hatzkel, and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Donations in Serky’s memory may be made to Serky and Benny Goldberg Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, www.jewishfoundation.org 204-477-7520, or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 03, 2024, Aug 03, 2024