Eileen Soffer

Obituary of Eileen Soffer

SOFFER, Eileen (nee Spencer)
January 16, 1932 – Colne, Lancashire, United Kingdom
January 12, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

 

Eileen Soffer, passed away peacefully in Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.

Eileen was born in Colne, Lancashire in Northern England on January 16, 1932. After training as a nurse in Manchester, Eileen worked at the Abergele Children’s Sanitorium in Wales for three years. She then served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Nursing Corps stationed in Germany. While working at the Jewish Hospital of London in the late 1950s, she met and fell in love with Heskel. They were married on July 2, 1960. In May 1962, they immigrated to Turtleford in Northern Saskatchewan where Heskel had been recruited as a family physician. They eventually settled in North Battleford where Eileen assisted Heskel in establishing and running his private family practice while raising their young family. In 1990, she moved to Saskatoon, four years after the passing of her beloved husband, where she remained until 2010. For the remainder of her years she resided in Calgary, Alberta, close to her son Robert and his family.

Eileen was an active member of the North Battleford Jewish community. She volunteered for a number of other organizations including the Haddassah-WIZO and UNICEF. Eileen was fond of the theatre, loved attending the symphony in Saskatoon and was an avid reader. She developed a passion for golf late in her life and in the summer, she could frequently be found enjoying a game of golf with friends and family. Eileen was fortunate to be able to travel. Many trips were made to Israel and England to visit family. However, there was no place she enjoyed more than the family cottage at Jackfish Lake. Summers would be spent at the lake while her three sons were growing up, and well into her late 70s. The summer would be spent enjoying the company of family and friends, reading a good book and enjoying the sun and fresh air. Eileen will be remembered for her elegance, sense of humor, strong family ties and compassion.

Eileen is survived and lovingly remembered by her three sons, Raymond (Gail), Robert (Kristin), and David (Cate). Lovingly known by her seven grandchildren as ‘Safta’, she will be remembered by Joshua and Jamie (Ray), William, Aeriel and Gabrielle (Robert), and Maxwell and Jillian (David); as well as one great-grandchild Carson (Joshua). She will also be remembered with fondness by numerous nephews and nieces from both her and Heskel’s families located around the world. Eileen was predeceased by her husband Heskel, sister Mary, and brother Alan.

A Graveside Service will be held at the Jewish section of the North Battleford City Cemetery (North Battleford, SK) on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. A Memorial Service is anticipated to be held in the Summer of 2022. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada https://alzheimer.ca/en. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.
 



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