Sheila passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of December 31, 2021.

She is survived by her daughter Laurel Malkin, son-in-law David Folk, and her grandchildren, Alli and Josh. She was predeceased by her parents, Israel and Mary Fratkin, her three siblings, Dave Fratkin, Bessie Litwack and Ben Fratkin, her husband Charlie Malkin, and her son Murray Malkin. She was the last remaining member of her generation on both sides of the family, and with her passing, it is the end of an era.

Sheila was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on October 23, 1929. Despite growing up during the depression and the Second World War, she had a very happy childhood surrounded by a loving, extended family. She moved to Winnipeg at the age of 15 and attended St. John's Tech. Upon graduation, she worked at the Boston Clothing Store and The Bay.

On December 25, 1951, Sheila and Charlie were married in Winnipeg. They honeymooned in New York City, which began their joint love of travel. In 1972, by the luck of a conversation with a travel agent, Sheila began a new career as a travel agent. She travelled the world, from the Galapagos to Fiji, Myanmar to Russia, with dozens of countries in between. She loved seeing new places and meeting travellers and locals alike wherever she ventured. At the age of 88, she, in her typical optimism, renewed her passport for ten years so that she would be ready for wherever life would take her.

Sheila was a lifelong bridge player and achieved the rank of Silver Life Master. Giving back to the community was very important to her, and she did volunteer work for a variety of organizations. Through the National Council of Jewish Women, Sheila recorded books on tape for the CNIB as well as performing audiology testing on children in Winnipeg schools. She sat on the local board of NCJW as well as their National Board. She was active on the Sisterhood of the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue of which she and Charlie were founding members.

She was a gourmet cook who loved entertaining, sharing meals and sweet treats with her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews, and many friends. Sheila loved the arts, instilling a lifelong love for ballet in her daughter and granddaughter. She adored her two grandchildren, and their visits and phone calls were the highlights of her life.

A graveside funeral was held on January 2, 2022, with Rabbi Yossi Benarroch officiating.

The family would like to thank Dr. Candace Bradshaw for her care and compassion, especially in the last few months of Sheila's life. Thank you to her many caregivers from the WRHA, especially Beth and Marilyn. A final heartfelt thank you to Edeliza Monton and the rest of her caregivers who with love and dignity allowed Sheila to stay in her own home until the end of her life. We are forever thankful for her excellent care.

If desired, donations would be appreciated to the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or the National Council of Jewish Women.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 08, 2022