Obituary of Beverly Shiffman

SHIFFMAN

Beverly Sheila

1931 -  2020

To Watch the Livestream of the Service please click the following link: https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/128720016

Beverly Sheila Shiffman (nee Diamond) passed away at St. Paul’s hospital on November 26 at the age of 89.  She was predeceased by her parents Harry and Millie Diamond. She is survived by her husband and the great love of her life, Dr. Jack Shiffman, brother Jerry Diamond, children Howard Shiffman (Debbie Anschell), Carol Wylie (Peter Kooy), Ken Shiffman (Wendy Seversen) and Harold Shiffman (Lisa), grandchildren Dana, Kate, Jessica, Alezah, Sophie, Ben, Sam, Hannah, Millia, Judah, Aaron, and great-grandchildren Anna, Eli, Grayson, Jonah, and Norah. Bev was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, surrounded by a large and loving family, of whom she had many warm memories. She was always at the top of her class and was an avid reader, happy and contented with a book in her hands. As a girl, she would carry home as many library books as she could, often stopping to read before she even got home. Bev was an extremely hard worker and brilliant at all she tried her hand at. Employers hated to see her leave because she was so good at everything she did. She married Jack in 1952 and they started their family the following year. She worked for the Toronto General Hospital Cancer Clinic, supporting Jack and a very young Howie, while Jack took dentistry at the University of Toronto. After that they moved to Flin Flon and spent nine happy years there, hosting parties, socializing with friends from the Kinsman and Kinettes, and growing their family. Bev kept everyone in the family centred through their moves to Chicago and finally Saskatoon, where Harold, the youngest was born. She became involved in local Chapter #4 of the Eastern Star, acting as an exemplary Worthy Matron in 1980. She was an integral part of food preparation for the Jewish Pavilion at Folkfest for years, making sure everyone was well-fed. She was also an active member of Hadassah. The family spent many happy years at the cottage at Blackstrap, and Bev and Jack enjoyed retirement winters in Florida until Bev’s health made it too difficult to travel. Over the years, her health struggles got the better of her and she had to move to the Saskatoon Convalescent Home and then to Sherbrooke Community Centre, where she spent the last year of her life. With great grief comes gratitude that Bev’s pain is ended and she is at peace.The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at St. Paul’s Hospital for making Bev’s last days as comfortable as possible. A very special thank you to Gilles Turcotte at Sherbrooke, whose efforts insured the family was able to see Bev as much as possible during the pandemic, through fence and Zoom visits, and who had a special ability to raise Bev’s spirits and coax her into revealing flashes of her wit and sense of humour. Donations in Bev’s name can be made to the Jack and Bev Shiffman Fund at the Saskatoon Community Foundation, Home - Saskatoon Community Foundation or CFHU | Canadian Friends Of The Hebrew University .  Respecting current Covid 19 restrictions the family has planned a private Funeral Service with committal taking place at the Agudas Israel Cemetery in Saskatoon.  Condolence may be left for the family at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home.