Riva Spatz

SPATZ (nee Melamedek), Riva – Age 90, of Halifax, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2013. Born November 10, 1922, in Maniewiece, Eastern Poland, Riva was a survivor of the Second World War; she was a resistance fighter against the Nazis. One of six children of Josef and Chana Melamedek, she grew up in Eastern Poland. After the war, she moved to Munich, where she met and married Simon Spatz. Together they moved to Canada in 1950, and built a new life in Halifax, surrounded by family, friends, and other survivors.

The compassion she had that led her to study nursing in her early life echoed throughout her entire life - in the way she raised her children, working hard to support the business she and her husband created while maintaining a strong sense of community and family connection.

Riva was predeceased by her parents, Josef and Chana Melamdek; sisters Zelda and Malkah; brother Yehuda. She is survived by her daughter, Shirley; son, Josef (Jim); grandsons, Joshua and Avram; sisters, Ina Kohler and Libby Glucksman; cousins Jack Lorber and Jack Melamedek.

Riva had a full life, filled with both joy and pain, with loss and rebirth.

Thank you for the loving care of a group of incredible women that made such a great difference in Riva’s life these past many years and enabled her to live in the home she loved.

Funeral service was held in Cruikshank's Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street on Friday, November 1, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., with burial at the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Baron de Hirsch Hebrew Benevolent Society (Beth Israel Synagogue of Halifax); Camp Kadimah; United Israel Appeal; or the Parker Street Food & Furniture Bank.