Memorial Tribute: Louise Rose Kirshner OBM

(Calgary) – It is with broken hearts and great sadness that the family of Louise Kirshner z”l announces her passing on June 18, 2022. The funeral was held on June 21, 2022 at the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Calgary. The interment followed at Chevra Kadisha cemetery.

Louise was 81 years old and was married to her beloved Oscar Kirshner, a Holocaust survivor, for 48 years before Oscar’s passing on March 22, 2012. Louise was also pre-deceased by her parents Jacob and Esther Dashevsky, older sisters: Helen Spevakow (Abe), Lillian Milner (Johnny) and Miriam Adler (wife of Dr. Bernie Adler of Edmonton, may he live to be 120 in good health), her sister-in-law, Rachel Krebs (Israel), her nephews Clayton Stockford and Ryan Lobb (survived by his wife Jenn) and her niece, Nettie Silver (wife of Earl Silver, may he also live to be 120 in good health).

While Oscar and Louise did not have children of their own, Louise would always say how blessed she was to have so many wonderful nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and great nephews, all of whom she loved as if they were her own children. Louise will be sadly missed by her entire large family, including the Adlers, Barads, Brands, Dashevskys, Hectors, Krebs, Lobbs, Milners, Silvers and Spevakows, as well as her many friends.

Louise was born March 17, 1941 in Grande Prairie, Alberta. She grew up on a farm near Hythe Alberta in the Peace River country with her parents and 3 older sisters.  Auntie Louise met her beloved Oscar and got married in Edmonton on December 19, 1963 and shortly thereafter made Calgary their home, where they lived out their joyful and loving lives together.

Louise will always be remembered for her love of life and her incredible ability to make everyone laugh. Our Auntie Louise was the life of every party and always had a funny story to share. She would lift our spirits and make us laugh so hard that tears would flow. Auntie Louise treated everyone with love, kindness and compassion. Her generosity and love for others was unsurpassed.

Thank you to the entire staff at the Manor Village Retirement Home at Fish Creek Park and especially to Louise’s nephew Jerry Spevakow and his wife Judith, who were Auntie Louise’s loving and dutiful caregivers the past few years. The entire family is forever grateful to them.

Also, a heartfelt thank you to all our family, friends and community members for your outpouring of love and support in memory of Louise. All your phone calls, emails, text and WhatsApp messages were gratefully appreciated and a comfort to us all.

Donations can be made in memory of Louise to the Holocaust and Human Rights: Remembrance and Education Department of the Calgary Jewish Federation, c/o 1607 – 90 Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2V 4V7 (Telephone: 403-444-3152) Email: holocaustedu@jewishcalgary.org). Arrangements in care of the Chevra Kadisha of Calgary, Telephone:  403-244-4717.

We love you forever Auntie Louise. May you now rest in peace.