Date of Death: November 24, 2016
Funeral will be held at Temple Anshe Sholom, 215 Cline Avenue N., Hamilton, ON on November 27, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Cemetery: Temple Anshe Sholom, 427 Limeridge Road E., Hamilton
Shiva will be held on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings at 50 Sanders Boulevard, Hamilton. Services begin at 7:30 pm each night.
ZACK, Lillian August 16, 1924 – November 24, 2016 Almost 90 years ago, Henry and Miriam Tenenbaum left Poland for Canada, along with their 4 year old daughter, Lillian. They settled in Toronto where Lillian quickly made friends and helped in the family variety store. Following her graduation from Harbord Collegiate Secondary School, she became a lab assistant, then a nurse and worked at the first Mount Sinai Hospital, in Toronto, which then consisted of 36 beds. After her marriage to Manuel Zack of Hamilton, she quickly integrated herself into the community. She became an enthusiastic member of the Hamilton Theatre Guild and played several leading roles in a variety of plays. She was especially praised for her ability to bring veracity and detail to an assortment of characters. Lillian spent 3 summers in New York City exploring the place of drama in role-playing; a method that would improve the knowledge and techniques of medical students and doctors. Over a period of 5 years, with the sponsorship of the Victorian Order of Nurses, she wrote a bi-monthly column for the Hamilton Spectator on the issues facing the elderly. This was at a time when gerontology was little studied. Her columns; innovative and helpful, were widely lauded for both information and insight. Lillian was especially interested in how people communicate through body language; she became an expert on the subject and brought her insights to students at McMaster University. When her husband was chosen as President of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for a 3 year period, Lillian enthusiastically and efficiently performed her numerous social and societal responsibilities in connection with the orchestra. She found time in her extended schedule of activities to serve for two years as President of the Deborah Sisterhood of Temple Anshe Sholom. Of course, her major concern was the growth and well-being of her children; Dr. Deborah Zack-Wilner, a psychiatrist in Montreal, and her son, Martin a professor at the University of Toronto in pharmacology. She will be missed by Asher Wilner and Pam Zack as well as her grandchildren, Benjamin, Daniel, Joshua Wilner and Rachel Zack. Two years ago she experienced trauma and shock at the loss of her daughter, Elisse, who was only 62 years old. She was known and praised across Canada, and in many parts of the world, for her undeviating efforts in helping victims of the AIDS disease. Lillian was especially gifted in acquiring friends; she was a warm, multi-faceted and singular personality. Admired and loved by many; she will be missed. Funeral Services will take place at Temple Anshe Sholom on November 27th at 1 o’clock. Interment will take place at the Temple Cemetery on Limeridge Road at Upper Wellington, in Hamilton. Friends will be welcomed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings at 50 Sanders Blvd. in West Hamilton. Family Shivah will be observed in Toronto.