Our mother, Clara Bella Katz Simkin, was a well-read, intelligent, classy woman, who spoke and dressed in a way that belied the modest circumstances into which she was born in Dauphin, Manitoba, on June 23, 1917. Her parents, Sam Katz and Rusie Rosen, settled in Canada, because Sam's father, I.J., and Rusie herself had to flee the Russian pogroms, as did so many other Jews in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

When Claribel — the contraction and nickname throughout her life — was a child, Sam and Rusie moved from Dauphin, to 88 Matheson Avenue in the north end of Winnipeg. There she grew up with her beloved siblings, older sister Sue and brother Freddie, attending Luxton school, and later St. John's High, though her parents could not afford to send her to university. Instead, right after high school, she went to work as a bookkeeper for her uncles Harry and Jack Rosen, who ran a clothing business in downtown Winnipeg.

Claribel met our father, Saul, when they were still teenagers. As other Jewish youth of the day, they socialized through clubs (Saul belonging to "The Lucky Strikes"), and would meet to go tobogganing, skating, or dancing. Our mother told the story that though she might have been on a date with another boy, she would call Saul to take her home, and he would come for her in his coal truck. They'd clearly made their choice early on. Saul and Claribel were finally married in 1938 and went to live with Rusie, Sam, and Sue on Matheson.

As Saul became more successful, they were able to move into their own apartment, and eventually into our family home on Scotia Street, at which point mother stopped working. Claribel, like her mother, Rusie, loved a good card game and played with her friends, Gertie Stall, Irene Udow, Betty Akman, and her Auntie Geila Rosen, often until the wee hours of the morning. In fact she was in the middle of a game when the ambulance came to pick her up as she was about to give birth. Her other great passion was reading, a family tradition, her father — our "Puppie" — in particular, known for his voracious reading. Though she loved fiction, she mainly read non-fiction and was particularly knowledgeable about history and politics, reading many biographies and autobiographies of leading figures of the 19th and 20th centuries. When we came home from school, she was often curled up on the sofa, absorbed by one or another great book.

Our mother carried on a personal correspondence with Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the legendary medical missionary, contributing to his hospital in Lambarene month after month for many years. Dr. Schweitzer once wrote to her that she was the most consistent supporter of his hospital he'd ever had. She was also on the board of another organization which she supported to the end of her days — the John Howard and Elizabeth Fry Society — which championed women's rights in prison. She understood the value of commitment and charity.

Claribel was astute, "read people well," and was extremely supportive of her friends, who confided in her with impunity knowing she would never reveal their confidences. Claribel was also close with Anna Averbach and Anne Ostrow, who each told us that she saw the nub of a problem immediately and gave good advice. She would often say, "Don't explain and don't complain" or "No farenfering." She was a straight shooter and exceedingly clever with a quip.

The heart and soul of the woman, however, was as a friend, companion, and wife to Saul, who was grateful for her love, caring for her devotedly during the last difficult nine months of her life. She had always been his most trusted advisor — both of us remembering discussions about complex issues that arose in Saul's business or their social life — and truest best friend. She was our greatest supporter, as well — her daughters' champion — loving us unconditionally. Though women were not encouraged to have careers in the era into which she was born, she adapted to our generation's mores and spoke proudly of our accomplishments. She would exhort us to fight, to stand up for ourselves — indeed a modern woman and strong mother.

Claribel travelled the world with Saul and their friends, exploring and kicking their heels up in London, Rome, or Singapore. She and Saul went on many fishing trips together at Minaki. They would also go out on their boat, the Jadia — corned beef sandwich in one hand, libation in the other — and cruise up and down the Red River with friends and family. For their 50th wedding anniversary, we gave them a small glass sculpture with hot air balloons etched into it signifying their 50 "high-flyin' years." Claribel and Saul worked hard, played hard, and with their many parties, trips, card games, and social and family events, there is no doubt that together, they had a great life. Written by: Jacqueline Simkin and Diane Simkin Demeter

2012