RHODA FELDMAN

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RHODA FELDMAN

Rhoda Feldman passed away peacefully at the age of 91 after a brief hospital stay, spending her last days surrounded by her loving family.

Rhoda was born in 1933, the only daughter of Sam and Lily Koven. She grew up in a basement apartment in Winnipeg’s North End. The second oldest child, she had an older brother Gerry and younger twin brothers, Paul and Sorrel. With her father serving overseas in the Royal Canadian Corps of Engineers for six years during the Second World War, Rhoda often found herself as their caregiver. Despite the hardships experienced early in her life, she had fond memories of her childhood - in large part thanks to a caring family including her mother’s four vivacious sisters, who remained a presence over the years in which she built a family of her own. Regardless of, or due to, her humble beginnings, Rhoda dreamed big and possessed the energy and determination to make it happen.

Rhoda's flair for writing was noticed early in her life by a supportive teacher. At a time when most women went straight from high school to focusing on marriage and family, Rhoda finished High School having worked on school newspapers and as yearbook editor, decided to pursue journalism. At the University of Manitoba, she wrote as a sports columnist and began approaching the Winnipeg Free Press regularly and persistently until she succeeded in finding a place there as a reporter.

Not long after starting, Rhoda hit the front page of the Winnipeg Free Press finding herself in the right place and time to cover a historic fire that levelled the Winnipeg Canoe Club.

Many of Rhoda’s closest lifelong friendships were established at the YMHA (the downtown Winnipeg Jewish Community Centre) where she also met her future husband Zivey.

Rhoda and Zivey married in 1953, honeymooning in Las Vegas via a romantic road trip. They were a striking couple, glamourous and filled with promise for the future. She was just shy of 21, and too young to drink on her honeymoon. Two years later they welcomed their first child, Brian. Rhoda put her career on pause as she began her new role as mother, but later Rhoda's career blossomed as she moved into fashion reporting for the Winnipeg Free Press. She travelled to major cities all over the world covering runways and trends. She had a legendary terrible sense of direction and would laugh recalling how she had gotten lost in every major city in the world.

During her career, she interviewed all the major designers of the era including Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. She also managed to secure an elusive interview with Estee Lauder, and she would reminisce about experiences at Studio 54 and meeting Andy Warhol.

An absolute force of nature, Rhoda spent years meeting deadlines at the paper and still putting together a huge spread for Shabbat dinner every Friday night where family attendance was mandatory, and friends were always welcome.

As a freelance journalist, Rhoda’s work was also seen in many papers and other mediums such as CBC Radio & Television.

The family takes comfort in the fond memories of their last celebration with Rhoda, that took place exactly one week before the day of her passing. They gathered to celebrate Rhoda and Zivey's 71st wedding anniversary at the family home the couple lived in together for over 55 years.

Rhoda is survived by her husband, Zivey, her five children, Brian, Lisa (Herb), Karen (Larry), Susan, and Alan (Aviva), her six grandchildren, Corinne, Leslie, Lyric, Clayton, Gabriel and Michael, and six great-grandchildren, Donald, Cassidy, Ally, Eli, Reed and Sierra. She was predeceased by Brian’s wife, Colleen.

At the request of the family, if you would like to make any donations in Rhoda’s memory, please do so to the charity or organization of your choice.

RHODA FELDMAN

Rhoda Feldman passed peacefully at the age of 91 after a brief hospital stay and spending her last days surrounded by her loving family.

Her funeral will be held graveside at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 10th. Area 3, section K, row 30 plot 1.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 10, 2024, Sep 10, 2024, Sep 28, 2024