Regina Grinstein, a Holocaust survivor and longtime Toronto entrepreneur, died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 102. Born Regina Weithorn on June 2, 1923, in Varench, Poland, she endured the horrors of World War II before building a successful catering business and becoming a cherished figure in her community.

During the war, Grinstein and her family fled the advancing German forces, traveling by troika to work in munitions factories relocated to Siberia. Demonstrating resilience and determination from a young age, she secured employment at a new Russian factory after presenting technical knowledge she retained from prior factory work. It was in Siberia that she met her future husband, Chaim Grinstein. The couple married and had their first son, William, before moving to a displaced persons camp in Germany. In 1949, the Grinsteins immigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto, where their second son, Martin, was born.

Once established, Regina Grinstein overcame financial and societal challenges common for women of her era, such as restrictions on credit, to found her catering business, Regina’s Dairy & Appetizer. Operating in north Toronto, her shop became a hub for the Bathurst Manor Jewish community over a span of 40 years. Known for her precise recipes and warm customer rapport, she continued working in the business until age 80. Family involvement was a hallmark of her enterprise, with her son Martin and later her grandchildren assisting during peak periods, particularly around Jewish holidays.

Grinstein was known not only for her entrepreneurial skills but also for her personal grace and generosity. She maintained an elegant style well into her 90s and was known to gift visitors with clothing or accessories from her collection. After Chaim’s death in 2002, she continued to live independently before moving to a retirement home in Thornhill at age 93 to recuperate from surgery. There, she lived near her sister Lucy until the latter’s death in 2023.

Throughout her life, Grinstein remained a symbol of perseverance, resourcefulness, and warmth. Her legacy endures through her family—five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren—and the many community members who fondly remember her dedication, including the care she put into every jar of her famed chicken soup.