About Vera

Vera was born in Moscow in 1931, the younger sister of Alexander. Her parents, Zalman and Polina Messerman, raised her with the help of their beloved nanny, Nyura. Vera grew up in a large and close-knit family with many uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Vera spent part of her childhood in Kazan, where the family was evacuated during the war. She remembered many hardships from this time, and eventually received reparations from Germany. After the war, Vera finished school, receiving medals for academic excellence. She entered medical school, and became a doctor of radiology.

As a student, Vera created a large group of friends, and through them, met Arnold Joffe. With this young man, she went ice skating and to the theatre, and danced the tango. After finally confessing their love for one another, Vera and Arik were married in 1953. They were married for 71 and a half years, and only death has now separated them.

In 1955 they had a daughter, Elena, and in 1961, a son, Michael. These children not only grew up in the large family (the centre of which Vera became after the death of her mother) but also a large group of close friends and their children. Between her work and family responsibilities, Vera somehow found time to sew, knit, read, go to plays, museums, and movies, travel, and of course, constantly speak to and advise her friends. After Julia's birth in 1982, Vera also became a very active grandmother.

The changes and challenges of the 1980s in the USSR convinced Vera that the future of the family lay abroad. She did everything she could to facilitate emigration. After having sent off their son and daughter, Vera and Arik themselves immigrated to America in 1991. They settled in Lynn, where her older brother was already living.

With her characteristic energy, Vera began to work, learn English and computers, and grew a new set of friends (both Russian- and English-speaking). When her old friends also emigrated, she was able to speak with them more often, and even travel with them again. The kitchen fridge was soon too small to display all the magnets she collected from the places she visited. One of her favourite places was Israel, which was not only home to many of her loved ones, but also held spiritual importance.

Vera was very grateful to this country, which allowed her to have such a rich and healthy long life. She would often very sincerely exclaim, "God Bless America!"

Although Lena and Julia had settled in Canada, they came to visit several times a year. Their visits were always a joyous occasion for Vera. While Julia was in school, she would spend her summers in Lynn, and Vera was a second mother to her. Vera was also extremely proud that Lena was finally able to practice as a doctor in Canada. 

When her second granddaughter, Yonah, was born, Vera lived several days a week at Misha's house, to help her daughter-in-law Natasha with the baby. By this time, Vera and Arik were no longer working, and could devote a lot of time to helping raise Yonah. Until her last day, Vera talked to her granddaughters on the phone every night. She longed to live to attend Yonah's wedding this September. 

Vera always joked that great-grandmothers automatically go to heaven. Although she would have doubtless gone there for her own good deeds, she received a guarantee in 2021, when her great-granddaughter Shona was born. Vera and Arik were able to come to Canada for the last time in 2022 to meet her in person, and watched her growing up via FaceTime almost every night.

Vera was not only highly educated and intelligent, she was also wise and patient. She showed her love and respect with advice and assistance. Over the course of her entire life, Vera helped countless people with in word and deed as a doctor, friend, mentor, and mother.

Her enormous heart stopped beating on July 30, 2025.

Her memory will live forever because she is in our hearts.