Linda Salem
(née Waserman)
1944 – 2019
Peacefully, on Monday, November 18, 2019, after a hard-fought battle. Beloved wife and travel companion of Victor for twenty-seven years. Daughter of the late Karl Waserman and the late Lillian Brill, z”l, of Ottawa. Mother and mother-in-law of Nanci Mendelsohn and Warren Brown, Karen Salem and Mark Goren, Jennifer Mendelsohn and Hal Shaftel, and Neil Salem and Adele Nahmad. Devoted big sister and sister-in-law to Susan Waserman and Maury Kleinman, Debbie Waserman, David Waserman and Nancy Trudel, Rolly and Gail Salem, and the late Sharon Waserman. Devoted Bubbie of Kira, Sean, Katrina, Michaela, Janna, Chase, Neve, Beckett, and Michael, each of whom has a special nickname from Linda to always remember her by. Loving aunt of Jordana, Chelsea, and Tamara Waserman, Daniel and Lisa Salem, and Erin Salem. Born and raised in Ottawa, Linda graduated from the Ottawa Civic School of Nursing in 1964, moved to Montreal, and started working at the Jewish General Hospital in public surgery. She spent 34 years at the JGH, eventually working in hemodialysis and finally, orthopedics. Once retired, she then volunteered at the ortho clinic for 19 years, or, as she jokingly called it, her “non-paying job.” Linda’s joie de vie was clear to all who knew her. She was a prolific baker, famous for her Rosh Hashana honey cakes that she made annually in absurdly vast quantities for friends and family. She loved travelling to exotic destinations with Victor and her family, cooking and hosting dinner parties, enjoying a great bottle of wine, trying out new restaurants, being an active member of CHW and Na’amat, playing mahjong with her friends, working out at the Y, and spending time at her beloved weekend home in Vermont. We would like to thank Linda’s exceptional lifelong friends, Ellie, Marion, Jan, and Vicki, for providing emotional support and limitless strength—especially in these past few months. We are so grateful to Linda’s large and loving circle of friends, too many to be named here. A special thank you to the staff of K9 and Palliative Care at the JGH, and Linda’s compassionate caregivers, Shirley, Linda, Gemma, and Lita. Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon St. W., on Friday, November 22 at 11:00 a.m. Burial at the Shaare Zion Congregation Section, Eternal Gardens Cemetery, Beaconsfield. Shiva at 5720 Rembrandt Ave., Cote St. Luc. Evening services at 7:30 p.m. Donations in Linda’s memory may be made to the Hadassah WIZO Organization of Canada, (514) 933-8461 or www.chw.ca/lindawasermansalem, or to the Na’amat Canada, Inc. (Montreal Office), (514) 484-0252.
