As she nears her 90th birthday, Hannah Steindel is a vibrant, active and intellectually sharp woman who is constantly on the look out for new adventures and challenges. With a positive attitude that has always allowed her to see the best in any situation, Hannah has kept busy in recent years by, among other pursuits, learning to read Torah and to play bridge.

Hannah was born in St. Boniface to Benjamin and Passy (Selig) Moscovitch,

turn-of-the-century emigrants from Romania who had spent their first ten years in Canada living in Montreal. Hannah was the middle child in a large family that consisted of brothers, Sidney and Norman, and sisters, Laura Rosen, Esther Herscovitch, Ruth Gutkin, Irene Gunn and Evelyn Silver. Both a brother and sister died in Montreal before Hannah was born.

Hannah's father, Benjamin, was a self-made man, who, as the eldest child of a large family, was sent out to work at the age of nine. He moved from Montreal to Winnipeg to join the Moscovitch family business, the White House department store, known as the Eaton's of St. Boniface. From there he pursued other small business ventures, eventually establishing a wholesale confectionary. He never took anything for granted, and always was very appreciative of what he had. He also was very aware of setting a good example for the Gentile community. Hannah's mother, Passy, was very gregarious, had a strong work ethic, and like her husband, loved music and dancing. They looked for any reason to celebrate!

Hannah recalls a wonderful childhood growing up on Anderson Avenue. A serious piano student who performed on the stage of the Capital Theatre, Hannah graduated from Machray School and St. John's High. She then began an almost ten-year career working in the clothing industry, as there was no money for her to attend university. On July 6, 1941, after a ten-year courtship, she married David Steindel, a close friend of one of her brothers. Theirs was a great love affair. David's family was wonderful to Hannah.

After marriage, Hannah attended business college, and then worked a few years for the provincial government Victory Bonds, while David was employed as an office manager and a bookkeeper. Hannah left work to care for their two sons, Sam and Gordon, both of whom still live in Winnipeg. Sam is married to Karen Wassermann, and Gordon is married to Kathy Cobor and has two children, Maury and Marissa.

While raising her children, Hannah was an active member of Hadassah, Pioneer Women and National Council of Jewish Women, and pursued a variety of hobbies including music, literature, gardening, tennis and ice skating. She and David were active in the Phoenix Club, where they met their lifelong friend Esther Hauch, and were members of both the Rosh Pina and Shaarey Zedek synagogues. Entranced by liturgical music, Hannah began attending synagogue while still a child and now attends services every Shabbat morning, whether she is in Winnipeg or in Palm Springs. She regrets turning down her father's offer to send her to the Talmud Torah, but has made a point to continually learn about Judaism. David, who ran the Boy's Synagogue when he was younger, taught Hannah a great deal about the religion and customs.

Hannah is very proud of the Winnipeg Jewish community and all that it has accomplished. She strongly believes in a sense of justice for all and that education will lead the way to peace. She hopes to be remembered as a caring person with a taste for life, and reminds younger generations not to do to others what they would not want done to themselves.