It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Juliette Cohen (nee Eugenie Jakubowicz, Hebrew name Gittel) at the age of 87 on July 29, 2017, peacefully at her home, the wife of the late Herbert Cohen, beloved mother and mother-in-law of Annalee Sawiak and her husband Grant Sawiak, Philip Cohen and his wife Janet Weeks, Marcy Franklin and her husband Robert Franklin, Marcel Cohen and his wife Zlati Meyer, and the late Aaron Paul Cohen; proud grandmother of Marissa Vailer and her wife Lizzy Vailer, Alex and David Sawiak, Josiah Cohen, Lara and Cole Franklin and Aaron Benjamin Cohen.  Juliette was a true survivor, who as a child, not only escaped persecution during the Holocaust and the destruction of most of her family, but survived many other heartaches and hardships during the rest of her life, the worst being the unexpected, tragic death of her cherished, youngest son, Aaron at the age of 39 six and half years ago.  Juliette kept her strong will and tenacity until her dying day. She insisted that she return home from the hospital rather than back to the Assisted Living Facility in which she was temporarily convalescing, despite being still so unwell, struggling with emphysema and congestive heart failure. She returned to her home of 35 years and to her two cats, the home that was her touchstone and personal sanctuary. She relaxed in her favorite room and peacefully passed away 16 hours later. The family would like to thank her loving caregivers, May Manosca and Myrna Atangan for their strong devotion.

 

 Juliette was always friendly and interested in knowing and helping other people. She was sympathetic to the sorrows of others and was kind and generous. She also loved animals, including the abundant neighborhood squirrels, and has been a devoted pet owner most her life.

 Juliette was an actress, forever hoping for her big role. She had many extra and small parts in films over the years and since she was so friendly, was able to meet the movie stars in those films.  She also acted in commercials, the most well- known being the long running East Side Mario’s commercial that she played with great comic effect. After years and years of taking as many roles as possible, she was thrilled to finally be  admitted to the professional actor’s union, ACTRA.

 Charity:‎

Juliette was a proud Jew and as a Holocaust survivor, viewed the modern state of Israel as crucial to the survival and safety of the Jewish people.  ‎If you wish to make a donation in her honour, please make donations to any Israeli charity of your choice.

Funeral

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 1 at 1:00 PM at  Steeles Memorial Chapel ‎at 350 Steeles Avenue West.  Interment will follow immediately after at the Scarborough location of the Shaarei Shomayim Cemetery at 20 Colonial Avenue off of  McCowan Road, south of Eglinton (please see below).