“True matriarch” is the praise repeated many times in tributes to Leila Paperman, who died on Feb. 28 at age 91.

Her name is inextricably associated with the funeral home, Paperman & Sons, founded more than a century ago by her late husband Herbert’s grandfather and today run by her sons.

Her devotion to her “boys” is legendary, but Paperman (née Weinrauch) was a force of nature in her own right, serving as a role model for younger generations of women in community service and philanthropy.

She is remembered for her strength, presence, warmth and, not least, sense of humour and sharp wit.

“Leila was part of that ‘club’ of women who are always so elegantly groomed, pillars of our community, doers and givers,” wrote Arlene Brownstein Chinks in a condolence. “They led by example. This presence had a huge influence on our generation.”

Similarly, Sue Carol Isaacson recalls Paperman’s magnetism and dedication to both family and community.

“There was no one like Leila. In her quiet elegant manner she had the capacity to light up a room and, when she engaged you, she made you feel like you were the most important one there…a matriarch to her family and to us.”

Paperman was a teacher before her marriage to Herbert, who died in 2017 after they were together for 64 years. Many decades later, those in her Grade 4 class at Van Horne School still remember her—and she remembered them.

Paperman, with her husband and now children and grandchildren, was especially active with Federation CJA. She was chair of the women’s division for 1976-1977.

For the federation’s Legacy Project, she noted two outstanding events during that time: Montreal hosted the Summer Olympics, the first Canadian city to do so, and the separatist Parti Québécois came to power for the first time.

“(Premier) René Lévesque ushered in the era of Quebec nationalism and started the wave of exodus of many anglophones and Jews from Quebec. We knew we needed to secure the future of our community and one way was to start a young people’s division of Federation CJA.”

She was proud that it happened under her watch, and her son was the first chair of the young adult division.

Among her numerous other volunteer associations over the years were fundraising for ORT, cooking for Congregation Shaar Hashomayim’s Meals-on-Wheels, and serving as a governor of the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA. She and her husband were major supporters of the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors and notably established an emergency fund for the elderly in crisis.

It wasn’t all work for Paperman: she was a keen golfer and was often on the links at the Elm Ridge Country Club. In later years she was a serious bridge player.

Paperman is survived by her sons Joseph, Laurence and Ross and their wives; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.