CHERI LYNNE STAPLE
Adjust Text Size: A+ A-
CHERI LYNNE STAPLE
Cheri passed away peacefully Monday, May 12, 2025, at the Riverview Care Centre, with her parents and brother by her side.Cheri was born on May 31, 1977, to Rosiland and Morris Michalishyn. Morris passed away in 1978. Roz met Brian Staple in 1980 and in 1981 they married and Brian adopted Cheri and they became a family. In 1982 Cheri was blessed with a baby brother Wayne.Cheri grew up in Charleswood and attended Oak Park High School, graduating with honours in both French and English. Cheri started working for Hillary Production Machining and was there for almost 25 years. They became her family. Cheri loved her job and co-workers and always thought she would be able to go back to work one day.Her hobbies included, cooking, baking and crafts. There were many family, friends and co-workers who benefited from this. She loved to spoil everyone, especially her nephews, Caden and Brycen, who were her pride and joy.Cheri was a generous, loving and giving young woman with many talents. She donated to many charities and also sponsored children from other countries. She wanted to help out wherever she could. Her final wish was for anyone was to donate to the Cancer Society or a charity of their choice in lieu of flowers.The family would like to thank all those who phoned, texted and visited until her passing. This gave her peace and happiness. Thank you, Donna, Linda, and Heather. Your Bible studies and prayers with her meant a lot. Thank you to my sister Robie and brother-in-law Marcel for your love and support. You were a special Aunt and Uncle to her and she enjoyed your constant visits and the goodies you would bring her.On behalf of the family, we would like to thank the Riverview Health Care for their constant love and dedication that you gave Cheri. You gave Cheri comfort in her final days.Cheri is survived by her mother Rosiland, father Brian, brother Wayne, sister-in-law Angela, and loving nephews, Caden and Brycen.A private interment for immediate family to follow at a later date.
The Celebration of Life for Cheri Lynn Staple will be held on May 24, Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. at Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Blvd. A luncheon will follow at the church.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 17, 2025
Offer Condolences or Memory
Share your memories and/or express your condolences below. Fields marked with a * are required. All others are optional.
Unfortunately with the need to moderate tributes for inappropriate content, your comments may take up to 48 hours to appear. Thank you for your understanding.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada Standard
2 days ago
- Canada Standard
D-day veterans return to Normandy 81 years later to honor freedom
OMAHA BEACH, France: Eighty-one years after the D-Day landings, a small group of World War II veterans has returned to the beaches of Normandy, France. Most are over 100 years old now, but they came back with the same message they fought for during the war: freedom must always be protected. Nearly two dozen veterans who served in Europe and the Pacific are visiting Normandy to honor their fallen comrades. They are being warmly welcomed, especially by local French families and schoolchildren. The June 6, 1944, D-Day landings marked the start of the Allied liberation of France, and Normandy was the first part of mainland Europe to be freed. The beaches, once filled with violence and death, are now places of remembrance. "Bloody Omaha," one of the hardest-fought beaches, is significant. The sacrifice of the Allied soldiers helped build lasting friendships between Europe, the U.S., and Canada. French families treasure stories of D-Day, passing them down through generations. Veterans are greeted with hugs, photos, autographs, and the words "Merci!" from grateful locals. Even the youngest children are excited to meet them. For example, 101-year-old Arlester Brown amazed French schoolchildren by telling them his age. During the war, as a Black soldier in a segregated U.S. Army, he served in a laundry unit that followed Allied troops through Europe. Jack Stowe, now 98, joined the Navy at just 15 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He still receives kind letters from French children he met on past visits. "The people here are so good to us," he said. "They want their kids to know us and hear our stories. These stories will live on." At the Normandy American Cemetery, where nearly 9,400 U.S. soldiers are buried, visitors rub beach sand into the engraved names on the white gravestones so they're easier to read. Veteran Wally King, 101, paid tribute at the grave of Henry Shurlds Jr., a fellow pilot who died in 1944. Although King didn't know him personally, he felt a strong connection. King himself was shot down and seriously burned on his final mission just weeks before the war ended. King said many veterans stayed silent after the war. "They didn't talk about it with their families. In some ways, that's good—war is full of pain. But we must remember and honor the sacrifice." Each year, fewer veterans are able to return. The Best Defense Foundation, which organizes these trips, brought 50 veterans last year for the 80th anniversary. This year, there are just 23. Among them is 104-year-old nurse Betty Huffman-Rosevear, the only woman in the group. Also returning is 102-year-old Jake Larson, known as "Papa Jake" on TikTok. He landed on Omaha Beach in 1944 under heavy fire and survived. Now, with 1.2 million followers, he shares his story with the world. "We are the lucky ones," Larson said. "They didn't make it home. We are their family now. It's our duty to honor them." As WWII's survivors disappear, the responsibility is falling on the next generations that owe them the debt of freedom. "This will probably be the last Normandy return when you see the condition of some of us old guys," King said. "I hope I'm wrong."
Style Blueprint
3 days ago
- Style Blueprint
Meet the Owner of Ritual + Shelter, a Homewood Shop That's All About Healing
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit After finding relief from pain and trauma in the metaphysical, Jennifer Dorfman has been helping others through holistic and mystical modalities ever since. In 2020, she opened Ritual + Shelter as a haven for all things magickal in Birmingham. In addition to running her shop, Jennifer is a certified Death Doula, Reiki Master Teacher, Brainspotting Practitioner, and EFT Tapping Coach. For her, spirituality is about expansion, connection, and healing. Get to know this week's FACE of Birmingham! Pin Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Birmingham? I grew up in Winchester, VA, and earned my BA in English from Campbell University. I spent a decade living in the Raleigh, NC area and mostly worked in retail management, although I never really thought of it as a 'real' job at the time. In 2010, I followed my heart and intuition and made the move to Birmingham. It was here that I met and married my incredible husband and became a stepmom to two amazing stepdaughters. Despite building a beautiful family, I found myself struggling to 'find my tribe.' I didn't feel like I fit in anywhere, and for a long time, I couldn't figure out why. Pin How did you find your way to holistic healing and the metaphysical? It's hard to put into words because it was such a complex, transformative journey. Like most people around me, I grew up in the church. But the more I read my Bible and attended services, the more I noticed a disconnect between the teachings of kindness and how the church treated diversity. I knew there had to be a better way — one that didn't hurt others or myself. One night, I was meditating — sort of praying, too, though by then I was somewhere between agnostic and atheist. I asked, 'Who or what is out there? I need help!' And I got the most profound answer: a voice, just outside my right ear, said, 'It's been you all this time.' Around that same time, I had started clearing overgrown vines from our land and could hear the trees thanking me. It made me feel dizzy with wonder. Then I tried Reiki for back pain, not even knowing what it was. That first session blew my mind. Pin Can you say more about the 'magickal' side of your work? Magic is such an expansive word — it can mean so many things. But unfortunately, pop culture has warped our perception of it. When most people hear 'magic,' they think of superpowers, hexes, or flying broomsticks. But actual magic? I think it's just a phenomenon that science hasn't explained yet. How has Birmingham responded to your shop and work? When I opened Ritual + Shelter in 2020, I had already owned my retail shop, Domicile, for five years. I'd slowly been adding tarot and oracle decks, crystals, and oddities to my inventory. When the pandemic hit, and we had to shut down temporarily, it was my metaphysical customers who kept me afloat. I was floored by their support! When the shop next to mine closed, I saw a perfect opportunity to expand — and Ritual + Shelter was born. Aside from a few isolated situations, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Birmingham has a huge spiritual community. I love saying we really are 'The Magic City'—not just in name, but in spirit. Every age, ethnicity, and gender walks through our doors, and all are welcome. Pin What is one thing you wish everyone knew about witchcraft? A huge misconception is that witches worship Satan. That's just not true. Yes, some people worship Satan, just like some people worship just about anything. But historically, the people accused of witchcraft were often healers, herbalists, midwives, spiritual leaders, and overwhelmingly, women. To me, a witch is someone who has reclaimed their own power. Someone who makes up their own mind. Someone who understands light and dark, respects the Earth, and understands the nature of energy. For newbies interested in exploring the mystical, metaphysical, and magickal, how do you recommend getting started? I try to represent a wide range of paths in my shop, so I recommend stopping by and seeing what resonates. Everyone's path looks different. For me, it led into healing. I've trained in sound bowls, guided meditation, crystal healing, trauma-informed coaching, and end-of-life care. I also taught myself tarot and a bit of astrology. Others may be drawn to herbalism, yoga, ritual, or self-transformation through ceremony. I always say that finding witchcraft and spirituality felt like opening a door to the universe. Pin What do you like to do when you're not working? I'm usually hanging with my husband, meditating, or grounding. Because Ritual + Shelter is a sanctuary, many clients come in carrying really heavy trauma — things they feel even their therapist might not understand. I love helping people heal, but I have to be diligent about letting go of that energy at the end of the day. Meditation and grounding are essential for me. I also love reading and interior design. The store never looks the same twice — we're always reimagining the space. Who or what is inspiring you right now? My stepdaughters are such an inspiration. They've both finished undergrad and are heading into grad school. They're kind, funny, and incredibly driven. They're going to do amazing things for this world, and I'm so grateful to be part of their lives. I'm also rewatching Love on the Spectrum and listening to The Telepathy Tapes podcast, which explores autism and telepathy. That's magic to me — just explained through neuroscience. I was just recently diagnosed with autism myself, at 45, and that realization has helped me understand so much more about my own gifts. It's also something I see reflected in many of my clients. What is your best piece of advice? Be authentically yourself. Be weird. Be strange. Love what you love. Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can't live without. A luxurious bath, my giant fluorite crystal from Tucson, and P.F. Candle Co.'s Piñon scent. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. ********** Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives! About the Author Katie Leigh Matthews
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘The road is long': Syrian refugee engineering a fresh start in Montreal
MONTREAL – When Jad Albasha arrived in Quebec in 2016 as a 21-year-old fleeing his war-torn home of Syria, he landed in a snow-covered world that spoke French, a language in which he did not understand a single word. But now it rolls off the tongue as if Albasha has lived here all of his life. When he graduates on Saturday with a master's degree in civil engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, it will mark yet another milestone that shows how far he's come. He went from being a third-year civil engineering student in Syria, just six months away from earning a degree, to wondering if he would be stuck working at a grocery store in Laval, north of Montreal, forever. 'The road is long. I sometimes wondered 'am I going to get there?' ' Albasha said in an interview. 'Nine years later, we see that it's possible to take steps.' Albasha decided he would immerse himself in French upon arrival. First with a francization course to learn the basics starting in March 2016 and lasting about nine months. The goal was to speak French with the least amount of errors. Then, Albasha enrolled in a junior college program that would allow him to eventually resume his university career. However, his transcripts and missing paperwork from Syria led him to be rejected by almost every local university due to incomplete applications. With the exception of one: Polytechnique Montréal. The engineering school, which is affiliated with the Université de Montréal, has a large cohort of international students. Nine years later, his French is fluent. Enough so that he's able to work as a teaching assistant at Polytechnique. 'Merci, Bonjour, Bonsoir,' that was the limit of his French in January 2016, Albasha recalled in an interview. 'I remember before I started my French courses I was working at a grocery store and I wasn't even a cashier, I was a bag boy because I couldn't speak to clients,' Albasha said. 'It was difficult, every time someone asked me a question in French, I'd have to ask a colleague.' In January 2013, bombings at the Aleppo University killed 78 people and convinced the family it was time to leave the only home they'd known. His family — including a twin brother, an older brother and his parents, spent some time briefly in Lebanon before Justin Trudeau's Liberal government expedited Syrian refugee claims allowing them to come to Canada over a period of a few months. Even today, Montreal snow reminds him of his arrival to the country. He associates the fresh flakes with a renewal of sorts. 'It's a symbol of happiness for me, a new chance, a new start,' Albasha said. He works at AtkinsRéalis Group Inc., where he specializes in hydroelectric dams, a priority for Quebec's economic future, according to the current provincial government. He doesn't see his family returning to Aleppo. All of his friends have either spread across the globe or have died in the war. Montreal is where the family's foundation has been laid. Polytechnique Montreal's president Maud Cohen said Albasha demonstrates an important need for Quebec to bring in more engineers amid an aging population and a demographic deficit. 'The engineers really are building Quebec, they're responsible for innovation, creativity, everything that's happening in tech, in high-tech,' Cohen said. 'So might as well bring in students like this that have been trained somewhere else that have the potential of bringing a contribution to the economy faster, that have the potential to be trained here. 'We need more people like Jad … and it's not to diminish the role of people that are already living here.' Last December, Quebec adopted a law that put a cap on international student applications, with the ultimate aim of reducing overall immigration. At a time when international students are facing a ban brought by the U.S. government and Canadian institutions look to capitalize on a brain drain due to funding cuts in the U.S., Cohen has a message for the government: 'Help us help you.' 'We recruit high-level students so how can we work together to make sure that we help you provide what the economy needs and to help us in the same way with either funding, or help us (by having) higher quotas to recruit.' Albasha is a mentor for others. He's the resource for many attempting to start anew. 'Sadly, I didn't have a chance to meet someone who'd lived through the same things as me, so I didn't have that example,' he said. But everyone deserves a chance regardless of where they come from. While recently presenting a paper in Winnipeg, Albasha went to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Inscribed on the wall was a quote: 'All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.' 'I found this to be profound and true,' he said. 'Sometimes we're not lucky, but we can't forget that if we persevere, we can get there in most cases.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
