PORTLAND – Margaret Kane Tardif, 81, formerly of Presque Isle, was called home to her Lord and Savior Feb. 7, 2008. She lived out her final days at Fallbrook Woods Assisted Living, Portland, under the loving care of staff and family. She was born Aug. 8, 1926, in Ells-worth, the only child of Thomas and Teresa Kane. She spent her childhood and young adult life in Bangor, graduating from John Bapst High School in 1944. She spread her wings and headed to Portland to pursue a degree at Mercy School of Nursing, but homesickness set in and she returned to Bangor. There she attended Beals Secretarial School and began work at Ban-gor and Aroostook Railroad. It was there that she met a charming young clerk, Norman Tardif. After claiming to love the out of doors, she won Norman’s heart. He did not find out until several years later that she was really an indoor kind of girl, but love had already taken hold, and so they were married Nov. 11, 1950, at St. John Catholic Church, Bangor. After residing for a few years in Norman’s hometown of Van Buren, they moved to Presque Isle, where they raised their four children. Over the years the family spent many happy hours at their camp at Long Lake on Van Buren Cove. While raising their four children with Norman, she pursued her dream of becoming a nurse and in 1968 graduated with her degree from Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute. She worked as a nurse until 1981 at AR Gould Memorial Hospital. She was a warm and compassionate nurse, and all who had the pleasure to work with her were touched by her kindness. She was a beautiful person both inside and out. She was a devoted wife and mother with a wonderful sense of humor. For years, Margaret and Norman, along with many friends, loved to dance the weekend nights away at Prestile Hotel, until the wee hours of the morning before heading home to the children. She loved her family, her dog, Molly, the Red Sox, game shows and music. Danny O’Donnell was one of her favorite singers. Margaret was predeceased by a baby son, Brian; and her parents, Thomas and Teresa Kane. She leaves behind her loving husband of 57 years, Norman; four children, Stephen Tardif of Sicklerville, N.J., Laurie Tardif of Scarborough, Julie DiPierro and her husband, Cosmo, of Portland and Thomas Tardif and his wife, Linda; granddaughters, Liana and Charise; and grandson, Corey. A private memorial Mass will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor. Interment will be held in the summer at Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle. Memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s memory to The Pink Tulip Project, care of Maine Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 553, Portland, ME 04112 or www.pinktulipproject2007.kintera.org/margarettardif. Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 471 Deering Ave., Portland. Online condolences may be offered to the family and a guest book signed at www.independentdeathcare.com.