Basia Jesin

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, after 94 beautiful years, Basia Jesin z’l passed away peacefully with family and caregivers at her side.  Married for over 72 years, to her husband, Isaac z’l, they built a beautiful and successful life in Canada and she was the matriarch of a large family that spans  the globe.

A Holocaust survivor, she moved to Canada shortly after the war with her husband, young son and a “few dollars in their pockets”. Together they started out as poultry farmers in Smithville, Ontario. After moving to Toronto with their growing family, Basia became a licensed real estate agent and supported her husband at home while their poultry business flourished in Kensington market for 40 years, ultimately, becoming the founding partners of Chai Kosher Poultry, which grew to become the largest supplier of kosher poultry across Canada.

Basia’s front door was always open with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends always visiting. There was always food on her kitchen table and no one ever left her house hungry. She loved a good card game and was especially fond of Pinochle. She cherished winters in Miami and summers at the family cottage in Baysville, Ontario.  There, she played a key role in founding and supporting the summer congregation, which thrived for 40 years. She enjoyed swimming in the lake, walking around the tennis court and hosting “Bubie’s Breakfast” for everyone every Sunday morning. Known for her generosity and philanthropy, she gave freely to many organisations, including, Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda, Ya’d Vashem: The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, Beit Halochem, Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, and many others.

Ultimately, her greatest success in life was the large warm and loving family that she and Isaac created together. She is survived by her six children, Paul (Janie), Aaron (Sharon), Norman (Edie), Elaine (Danny), Jerry (Barbara), and Eddie (Lisa), her 26 grandchildren, Jacob (Sheryl), Moishe (Stephanie), Steven (Sarah), Ahuva (Meir), Maytal (Safi), Aliza (David), Yehezkel (Rebecca), Raffi, (Racheli), Shlomo (Rivkah), Adam (Sharon), Shawna, Jeremy (Koren), Jaclyn, Jessica (Jake), Rachel, Jeremy, Benji (Becca), Sarah (Seth), Daniela (Seth), Josh, Emily, Isaac, Joel (Laura), Shimmy, David, Jordan and 4 step grandchildren, Cheryl (Bryan) Herkovitz, Steven Lerner, Echo Poy, and April Poy, and her 38 great grandchildren, Dylan, Benjamin, Alexandra, Jamie, Chloe, Sophie, Moshe, Ariel, Shoshana, Ayelet, Noa, Maya, Talia, Moshe Chaim, Akiva, Adina, Noam, Nava, Chani, Elisheva, Eitan, Hailey, Max, Jack, Sam, Ilan, Lelah, Orli, Avi, Naama, Kai, Maya, Mika, Noah, Annie, Isabelle, Judah, and Isaac. Also survived by her sister- in-law Gloria Slawin and her cousin Albert Bensman.

Basia will always be remembered for her pragmatic and straightforward attitude coupled with her generosity. She was a strong woman with a zest for life and a drive to flourish. Her memory will forever be a blessing to the many people whose lives she touched.

The family is forever grateful to the loving, attentive care she received from her caregivers over the years including, Gi, Janet and Sonia, who enabled her to live with dignity and in comfort. Thank you to Dr. Zion Sasson who went above and beyond in his kindness and care and to Dr. Dov Soberman, who was extremely helpful in facilitating her regular visits to Humber River ER over the last 2 years of her life. Thank you also to Dr. Adam Goldman, whose care and compassion was so much appreciated by all of our family.