Obituary of Sabine Joffe

It is with sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Sabine Joffe of Calgary on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at the age of 81 years. Sabine was born in Drumheller in 1926 and moved to Calgary as a teenager. While growing up she enjoyed both roaming the valley at the Badlands, near home, and later family summers in the mountains in Banff. Sabine graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters Degree in Social Work. Her early professional career involved the heartbreaking and landmark work of counselling young Jewish children who were survivors of the Holocaust; then she became the director of Social Services at the Baycrest Jewish Home for the Aged in Toronto. Lately she was recording with loving humour, her experiences with these seniors. Returning to Calgary, Sabine assumed the Executive Directorship of the Jewish Family Services – a position she held for seventeen years. Here, she concentrated on the full range of family services but made the most significant contribution to the Jewish Community in the resettling of Russian-Jewish immigrants in the 1970’s. Recognised for her professionalism and expertise, she was on the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, where supervising students was her speciality. Sabine was also a member of the Alberta College of Social Workers. In retirement, Sabine enjoyed gardening, involvement in local provincial politics, debate on any issue, providing a wonderful home for her favourite cats and also family get-togethers and the company of her neighbours and friends. She was proud of her heritage as a grand-daughter of the first Jewish pioneers in Alberta, Jacob and Rachel Diamond and early settlers on the Joffe side. David and Jonathan Joffe, nephews of Sabine, were her constant source of pride and delight; she was devoted to them. Sabine is survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara Joffe and nephews, David and Jonathan Joffe. She was predeceased by her father Noah Joffe; her mother Hattie Joffe and brother Jay Joffe. Funeral Services will be held at the Jewish Memorial Chapel, (North East Corner of Highway 22X & 37th Street S.W.) on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. Arrangements in care of the CHEVRA KADISHA OF CALGARY, North East Corner of Highway 22X & 37th Street S.W., TELEPHONE: 244-4717. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta, 1607 – 90th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2V 4V7 Ph: (403) 444-3171 Fax: (403) 253-7915 email: jhssa@shaw.ca or may be made to the charity of one’s choice.