2017
Obituary Overview
Lissa Mary Donner
Lissa Mary Donner
Peacefully, but not without a fight, Lissa Mary Donner died November 8th, 2017, surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Lissa’s life began in 1955 in the house her father, the late architect Jack Donner, designed for their family on Churchill Drive, in Winnipeg. It was in that home that the foundations of Lissa’s beliefs in social justice and equality were forged: a political family from the early days of the 20th century, theirs was the only one on the street to have an NDP campaign sign on the lawn without fail during every election.
Her passion for social justice, her love of music, exercise and the outdoors, coupled with determination and a kind heart meant that Lissa became engaged in diverse ways to build a better world. To choose only a few examples: through her social work practicum, Lissa developed the plan for what became the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s Occupational Health Centre, and where she was appointed its first Executive Director; she was a regional reporter for Women Healthsharing, a pioneering magazine on women’s health; she ran as a federal NDP candidate in St. James in 1984; and through her work at the Canadian Cooperative Association, she supported co-op development in Canada and internationally. As a researcher, analyst and consultant, Lissa authored a myriad of widely respected reports on women and poverty, gender health indicators, primary care services, low income housing, occupational health and the report that led to the building of this city’s Birth Centre.
Lissa was a planner par excellence and queen of the spreadsheet. Whether assigning tasks for the Sholem Aleichem Community’s Passover seder organizing political campaigns, helping friends move, or tracking multimillion dollar budgets of public funds, Lissa was meticulous. She also served on several volunteer boards including the Sholem Aleichem Community, the Health Sciences Centre and Camp Wasaga and until her illness, regularly biked 40 or more kilometers along her beloved paths through Assiniboine Forest, Fort Whyte, Riding Mountain National Park and beyond.
Music was a deep source of joy for Lissa; singing was a way for her to express herself both politically and creatively. Her fearlessness allowed her to perform in many venues over the years. At the 1975 Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto, Lissa attended a workshop on protest songs. When no one at the workshop knew the lyrics to the union classic, Bread and Roses, Lissa stood up from the crowd and belted it out, acapella, for the entire crowd. She brought her love of folk music with her when she returned to live in Winnipeg, becoming a tireless volunteer for the Winnipeg Folk Festival for many years. She eventually served on its board – a volunteer position also held by her father, one of the Festival’s founding members.
Lissa gardened with a kind resignation to the presence of the myriad of bunnies and deer that loved eating, not looking at, her flowers and fruit. Her jams, pickles and chutneys remain treasured gifts.
She was an enthusiastic and steadfast feminist, dedicated to worker and human rights. Her most recent and last public service was as Executive Director of the Department of Manitoba Family Services and Labour where part of her responsibilities included implementing Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion legislation.
She was, to quote her Mom, a modest woman and a generous daughter. Lissa was brilliant, passionate and committed. Winnipeg and Manitoba are better for her having been here. A proud secular Jew, Lissa contributed to ‘tikkun olam’ — repairing the world. It is now up to the rest of us to continue this work.
If she were writing this, which we are sure she would dearly have wanted to do, she would say her most important contribution and legacy is her daughter Jacqueline, who brought her more joy than words can express.
Left to grieve her loss but cherish and celebrate her memory are her mother, Ruby; her daughter, Jacqueline (Charles Brockman), her sisters Rachel (Jamie Brown) and Eve; her four nephews, Findlay, Liam, Owen and Mordechai, her cousins Elizabeth (Derek Ceccarelli) and Simon (Joanne) and aunts and uncles Gail and Arthur Donner and Milton Freedman and Joanie Fridell, as well as countless relatives and treasured friends.
Lissa’s circles of friends were rich and varied. All though her illness, she brought family and friends together, weaving new and enduring friendships among us. These friendships include generations of children who adored ‘Auntie Lissa’ for the generous, respectful attention and love she showered on them.
A special thank you to Lissa’s incredible friends, who took exceptional care of her during her illness. There are too many of you to list here, but you know who you are. You all gave somuch of yourselves. The family thanks you from the depths of our hearts.
Lissa received excellent care from the staff at Cancer Care Manitoba’s Clinic 2, and in the Palliative Care unit at Riverview Health Centre. Thank you for treating Lissa with respect, dignity, and compassion – those were the qualities she valued above all others. Lissa will be deeply mourned, but never forgotten by those who knew her.
Her funeral and interment will be held at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home at 4000 Portage Avenue on Friday November 10th at 10 o’clock. A reception will follow at the same location. Shiva will be observed at Ruby, Jacqueline and Lissa’s home at 11 Cuthbertson Ave Winnipeg, on Saturday November 11th between 6 pm and 9 pm and Sunday November 12th, between 1 pm and 4 pm, and 7 to 9 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lissa’s name to the Winnipeg Folk Festival or SEED Winnipeg.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lissa Mary Donner – 2017.source
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba
death notice Lissa Mary Donner – 2017- mortuary notice Lissa Mary Donner – 2017