Judith Helen Reichert (née Nestorovicz)

September 15, 1943 – July 12, 2025 

It is with broken hearts that the family of Judith Helen Reichert (née Nestorovicz) announce her passing after a brief illness, on July 12 at the age of 81 in Winnipeg.

She leaves to mourn her husband Raymond of 62 years, daughters Andrea (México) and Melissa, granddaughter Tori Summer, brother Tom, best friend and sister-in-law Pat, brother-in-law John, nieces Candace (Robert), Kelly (Kevin), Karen (all of Winnipeg) and, Lisa (Don) of Windsor, nephew Brian (Gloria) of Oakbank, friends Margit Babula, Doris Lagiewka and Cathy Welby as well as many beloved cousins.

She was predeceased by her mother Ida, father William, sister-in-law Cordelia, brother-in-law Mervin, childhood friend June Mager (née Nazer) and close friend Glikeria Iwanuck.

Judith was born on September 15, 1943 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She grew up in the North End and attended William Whyte, Florence Nightengale, Andrew Mynarski, and Sisler High, graduating in 1960 with her high school diploma. She went on to work for the Children’s Aid Society, the Department of National Defense HMS Chippewa, Hayurst Insurance and later, the Canada Revenue Agency before retiring in 2003 to care for her granddaughter Tori.

Judith’s thirst for knowledge was insatiable. As a young person she dreamed of attending university, but due to financial constraints, wasn’t able. Long after marrying, and entering the work force she found the courage to do so and continued to attend classes at the University of Winnipeg until 2 years before her passing.

She was a long-time, ardent supporter of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Prairie Theatre Exchange. She attended her final concert – Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with her daughter Melissa thanks to the generosity of Access-2 Easter Seals which made it possible for her to be accompanied by family when she was no longer able to attend on her own.

Music and reading were a constant source of joy and solace. There was never a shortage of books to be read – stories to bear witness to, adventures to go on or mysteries to be solved; Her taste in literature ran the gamut. Afternoons were earmarked for reading. She would settle into her reading chair with her word puzzles and books, and disappear for hours. Reading was an opportunity for her to retreat from the stresses of life and imagine the world a different place.

Her granddaughter Tori (her sunshine) was a deep source of pride and joy. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her – whether it was sharing her love of reading, teaching her how to bake, attending soccer games or sharing her love for theatre at MTYP. Spending quality time with Tori meant the world to her.

She was generous of heart.

Her gifts supported a variety of organizations whose missions resonated deeply with her values including, Siloam Mission, Doctors without Borders, Agape Table, Manitoba Harvest, Stephen Lewis Foundation and Amnesty International to name but a few. For her, giving was an act of love.

She was bright and inquisitive, deeply intuitive and tender at heart, curious and deeply concerned about the world around her. She had a wry sense of humour, and remained witty and sharp-tongued until the end of her life.
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On Death

“Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. 

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to feel the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. 

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance”.

From Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

The family would like to thank Dr. Paul and Dr. Bashir from Cancer Care Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital’s palliative care team as well as the entire staff at Grace Hospice for all their kind and loving care during the final months of her life.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Judith’s life will be held on Wednesday July 30th at 11 AM at Grace Lutheran Church, 211 Kimberley Avenue. A luncheon will follow the service with interment at 1:30 PM at Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please consider making a donation in her name to Cancer Care Manitoba.

“All you have shall some day be given
Therefore give now 
That the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors”.