Myrna Iris Gameroff-Schwartz
28 October 1937 – 19 September 2021
Peacefully, her brave and arduous battle with lymphoma (Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia) ended on September 19, 2021 in her Whitby home,
surrounded by cherished husband Irwin Schwartz; children Jeffrey (Dasi Moscovitch) and Daniel (Celina Weigensberg); and younger siblings Rosalind (Dr. Philip Belitsky) and Doug Gameroff (Francois Pepin). Treasured elder daughter, Dr. Stacey Schwartz (Sandy Macdonald), predeceased her, in Halifax. Myrna was a playful companion of all her grandchildren, Leah and Jonah Macdonald (Halifax), Tess, Jacob, Zachary, and Caroline Schwartz (Toronto): she received much enjoyment in vacationing with them in warm destinations and loved their sleepovers at the family home, playing cards and scrabble. Myrna is also mourned by her close nieces and nephew Catherine, Michael, Lorraine Belitsky and their families in Toronto, North Carolina, and Singapore. Myrna was born to Louis and Helen Violet Gameroff in Montreal. A graduate of the High School for Girls, she completed her B.A. at McGill University (1958) and a teaching diploma at MacDonald College (1959). She married Irwin (1962) and, with her lifelong companion, raised their family, and their four-legged tail-wagging postman chaser Clementine, in their loving Montreal West home, surrounded by many long-time neighbours and friends. Many joyous summers were spent with family and friends in the Laurentians at Lake Alverna. She taught Grade 6 at Merton Elementary School for 5 years and remained in contact with several students until now, and was a pen pal to one of them at the Bordeaux prison. Much later, she became an engaging sales person at famed Montreal stores Lupton-Duval, Holt Renfrew, Henry Marks Men’s Wear, and Henry Birks and Sons. Myrna and Irwin re-located from Montreal to Whitby, Ontario in 1992, where they started a successful business with son, Jeffrey, and enjoyed the arrival of loved grandchildren, their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and their graduations. The loss of their daughter, Stacey, in September 2013, was a tragic blow that they handled with incredible poise but that forever leaves a hole in their hearts. Family and friends will remember Myrna’s pleasure at reading, word games and cards; her joining many book, bridge and language clubs; and above all her prodigious memory of all things literary and cultural. She had an astounding memory for the Montreal and Whitby communities; carefully read the Canadian Jewish News, dispatched newspaper clippings and articles of interest to family members, and became « the » repository of the history and affiliations of friends and relatives. She is also remembered fondly for the many beautiful afghans she lovingly knit for children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces. A family graveside service will be held on Thursday, September 23 at 2:00 PM. For the link to a livestream of the service, please visit Benjamin’s Memorial Chapel website at benjamins.ca. We welcome fully vaccinated friends and family to gather from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, September 23 at the home of Daniel and Celina at 307 Shaw Street, Toronto. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre donate.sunnybrook.ca/tribute
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Myrna Iris Gameroff-Schwartz 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Montreal, Province: Quebec