Obituary of Naomi Fanny Stambler

On January 14, 2024, Naomi Fanny Stambler took her last breath at University Hospital in London. Following a period of decline which saw her in various health care frameworks, she contracted COVID and was unable to recover. After years of physical struggles, she is finally at peace.

Naomi was born in Montreal on April 15, 1937 to Meyer and Ruth Epstein, moved to Ottawa as a young girl, and then to London where her father opened and ran the dignified Meyer Epstein Furs on Dundas Street for much of her life. She worked as a social worker for Child & Family services after her graduation from Western, and soon after met and married Martin Stambler, a young and dashing lawyer. They welcomed David, Eve Ann, and Daniel into their family, and created a wonderful home in south London, one of the few Jewish families to settle there. She was elegant, refined, and had inherited a British correctness from her father – she never complained or spoke ill of others, and was the epitome of politeness and graciousness to all she met. When her children were grown, she started a new chapter of her life in north London on Maitland Street. Her home was adorned with art and style, and she excelled at entertaining her friends there. These were lifelong friendships of mutual love and respect that sustained and nourished her. She volunteered in Palliative Care, and was an important contributor to her Reform synagogue, being one of its founding members.

Her biggest love in her life was her family, especially her grandchildren Theo and Rowan in Vancouver (via David and daughter-in-law Lori), and Om Yikrat, Tiferet, and Shefa in Jerusalem (via Daniel) – all to whom she bestowed limitless love and generosity; despite the physical distance, she remained invested and interested in every aspect of their lives. Her second biggest love was bestowed upon her feline companions - the psychotic Zephie, and later, gentle Mathilda.

Special thanks go to Julie Whiteside, her companion and caregiver since the pandemic started, for her love, patience, and support, as well as the staff at Grand Wood Park, Parkwood, and Mount Hope.

Donations in her honour are welcome to Temple Israel. Her funeral will be held at Logan Funeral Home at 371 Dundas Street, London, on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 at 11:30 am

Logan Funeral Home will be providing a live stream service at the time of the ceremony. 

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followed by burial at Or Shalom Cemetery, ending with a reception at Temple Israel at 605 Windermere Road.

She was a gentle and kind soul; a devoted mother, grandmother, friend and cousin filled with love, and will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She was loved, admired, and appreciated by all who knew her. May her memory be a blessing, and be for a blessing.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.loganfh.ca

                                        A tree will be planted as a living memorial to Naomi Stambler