Dr. Stella Weil

1914 - 2012

Dr. Stella Weil obituary, 1914-2012, Halifax, NS

Dr. Stella Weil

1914 - 2012

BORN

1914

DIED

2012

Stella Weil Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on May 1, 2012.
Weil, Dr. Stella - 97 years, Halifax passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday April 24, 2012 at home. Born in Czechoslovakia she received a Degree in Medicine from the University of Munich in 1938. She married Dr. Robert Weil, psychiatrist in 1938 in Prague shortly before they escaped with their lives from the advancing Nazis. They travelled through Europe to England to board the SS Ascania bound for Canada. Upon arrival in Canada they were sent to Saskatchewan, housed in cabooses and put to work as farmers. In the refugee camp, a citizens group discovered they were physicians, and asked them to setup medical practice in the township of Frenchman Butte, where they attended to the farmers, trappers, and the Indians. Together they had many humorous tales of their time as farmers as they had no idea of that lifestyle. However they made house calls and medicine work by travelling on horseback to the outlying areas. There, Sonja their only daughter was born only to be killed later in a tragic road accident in the USA while attending university. They finally settled in Halifax after several moves, where Dr. Robert Weil became professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Stella made many new friends while travelling the world with her husband and also after he became President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. She touched the hearts of many and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She is survived only by her nephews, James Weil, Australia, Michael Weil, USA, and Anthony Weil, England, grand-nieces, Sarah Anne Leighton and Nicole Helen Wilson, England, and their children: George, Luke, Oliver, Benjamin, and grand-nephew Sebastian, Sweden. Besides her husband Robert and daughter Sonja, she was predeceased by two brothers in law Kurt and Fritz. Funeral Service will be held 2 PM Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Cruikshank's Halifax Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street, Halifax. Reception following. Private family burial Fairview Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations to: Dr. Robert, Dr. Stella and Sonja Weil Foundation, c/o Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S. Online condolences may be viewed or sent to: www.cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com

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May 6, 2012

Elaine Wells posted to the memorial.

May 5, 2012

Margaret Fisher posted to the memorial.

May 4, 2012

Joan Gilroy posted to the memorial.

4 Entries

Elaine Wells

May 6, 2012

I would like to express my condolences to Stella's family and friends..I worked as a care worker for 10 months with Stella and loved listening to her stories.It was a pleasure to work with this lady.
Stella enjoyed having her friends come for a visit and coming over for supper at special times.
Stella often spoke of Anthony and Micheal and two friends in particular, Hans and Marlene.
She was also very fond of David and Marilyn, thanks Marilyn for your support to Stella, she loved your get togethers..you always lifted her spirits.
There are so many friends, I cannot name them all, but thank you again for coming over and visiting her, she loved it.
Thanks to all of the VON for their help, as well..
God Bless her and I pray she is were she wanted to be, with her daughter and husband..

Margaret Fisher

May 5, 2012

After fifty six years of being there for me I will truly miss Stella. Growing up with Sonja as my best and dearest friend I will always remember how she and Stella would giggle over the same things---both had a wonderful sense of humor. I remember trips to the cottage, an introduction to cheese for breakfast, Stellas struggle with Sonjas dog Rex, encouragement to succeed in school. I remember sharing my shock with Stella and Bob of losing Sonja at 48 in the prime of a wonderful career in Clinical Social Work. Most of all I remember Stellas inner strength in moving forward, in caring for Bob and her continued interest in friends and family in the last few years.

I would like to offer a special thank you to Joan and Dick Wilson for ensuring good care for Stella. The Newfie caretakers were truly exceptional.

Marg Fisher
Bedford

Joan Gilroy

May 4, 2012

May 4, 2012

I am writing to express my sorrow about Dr. Stella Weil's death and also to send my condolences to her family and friends.

I have known Stella since 1993 when she and her husband, Bob, decided to establish a bursary in memory of their only child, Sonja, who died tragically as a result of a car-bicycle accident in Chicago, As Director of the Dalhousie (formerly the Maritime) School of Social Work at that time, I was involved in discussions of this memorial bursary, and go to know the Weils. We became good friends and remained so until their deaths.

Stella and Bob had more than their share of hardship in escaping the Nazi occupation of their country, and grief over the terrible loss of their only child, Sonja. In spite of difficulties and tragedy, they remained compassionate, active, and generous people who contributed a great deal to their work, community, and many friends.

Stella was an accomplished person and a dear friend. I cherish my memories of our many visits and conversations over the years -- conversations about issues in teaching and practicing medicine, psychiatry and social work, our shared interests in politics, travelling, and enjoyment of occasional games of bridge.

In Stella's memory and as a tribute to her work and life, I am making a donation to the Sonia R. weil Memorial Bursary in Social Work.

Sincerely,

Joan Gilroy
5538 Cabot Place
Halifax, NS B3K 2J7

May 2, 2012

My husband and I were newlyweds when we first met Stella and Bob in 1950. They were our neighbours in a small apartment building in Fairview shortly after they had moved to Halifax from Saskatchewan. We have wonderful memories of those years and were honoured to be counted among the friends of the Weils. Our sincere condolences to Stella's family.. Hal and Shirley Price, Kemptville, Ontario

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Cruikshank's Halifax Funeral Home

2666 Windsor Street, Halifax, NS B3K5C9

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Sign Stella Weil's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May 6, 2012

Elaine Wells posted to the memorial.

May 5, 2012

Margaret Fisher posted to the memorial.

May 4, 2012

Joan Gilroy posted to the memorial.