GROSBERG, Ilse

Born on January 11 1923 Ilse Grosberg died peacefully on August 29 2026 in her home in North York. She was 103. She was a survivor in every respect, having lived through adversity and hardship particularly early in life. She was an only child born to parents who ran a general store in the small town of Haselune in northern Germany. Soon after the Nazis took power and Kristallnacht in Nov 1938 and through duress, her family managed to come to Canada on May 9, 1939 landing on a farm near Woodstock Ontario. They had no farming experience and Ilse was the only one who had learned some English and at the age of 16 helped the family to somehow become farmers. Then at the age of 19 was married to Fred Sidon moving to his farm also near Woodstock. Tragedy struck with her mother’s death on May 9 1944 and soon after became estranged from her father. She was 20 years old when her first child Evelyn was born, soon to be followed by Ronnie in 1944 and Michael in 1947.

The farm through hard work and perseverance and raising 3 children without even running water in the historic house, Fred and Ilse built a life in the farming community and were blessed with a 4th child Dale, 7 years after Michael. Fortunately, by then the older kids were in school. They farmed until Fred had heart problems and the turmoil began again. The farm was sold in 1968 and Fred and Ilse bought a brand new home in Toronto an incredible contrast to the 27 years of life in a farming community. However, 2 months after moving, Fred died and Ilse was on her own with a teenager at home in a city having to start all over again.

She later married Jack Grossberg a widower with 2 teenage daughters and not long after bought a vacation condo in Florida. Florida became the place where Ilse really came into her own in retirement. After Jack died, Ilse and Sy Cohen, who also had a Florida condo came together and continued their back-and-forth life together between Toronto and the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida.

As the Matriarch of the Sidon family her family has grown to 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren with their spouses her family numbers 50. The grandkids called her GiGi and the young ones at the time called her affectionately grandma orange, as her dyed hair meant to be red, often took on an orange hue.

She is finally going to be back together with Fred and we are all comforted knowing she is at peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ilse’s favourite charities, the Bernard Betel Centre, 1003 Steeles Ave W, Toronto, and the War Amps.