“Geddy Lee has lost someone, The last two nxt to his hearth … what a night”
Rush singer and bassist, Geddy Lee, is grieving the loss of his mother, Mary Weinrib, a Holocaust survivor who passed away last Friday, July 2, at the age of 95.
According to her obituary, Mary Weinrib’s life was a remarkable journey of perseverance, survival, and triumph. She passed away on the night of July 2, just weeks before her 96th birthday.
Born in 1925 as Manya (Malka) Rubinstein in Warsaw, Mary grew up in Wierzbnik, a Jewish shtetl in Starachowice, Poland, which was occupied by the Germans in 1939. She endured the horrors of the labor camp at the munitions factory in Starachowice and the concentration camps at Auschwitz, where she met her future husband, Morris Weinrib, and Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated in April 1945.
Mary and Morris were reunited and married in 1946 before emigrating to Canada. After Morris’s sudden death in 1965, Mary, determined and resilient, took over the family’s variety store in Newmarket, despite the advice of well-meaning friends. She successfully ran the business until her retirement.
Mary was known for her zest for life, humor, compassion, and generosity. She was a loving mother who cherished her family, especially during Rosh Hashanah and Passover, where she would prepare elaborate family meals after long days managing the store.
As the mother of Geddy Lee, Mary was a steadfast supporter of Rush and was a familiar face at their concerts. When Rush released their first album, Mary proudly displayed posters in her store windows and gave away albums to kids who couldn’t afford them.
Mary was one of the longest-living Holocaust survivors and lived to see her family grow and thrive.
She is survived by her children, Susan Weinrib Gitajn, Geddy Lee Weinrib, and Allan Weinrib, along with their spouses, children, and grandchildren.
Donations in Mary Weinrib’s memory can be made to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies.
Everyone at BraveWords extends their deepest condolences to Geddy Lee and his family. Rest in peace, Mary Weinrib.
