VAN BUREN – Anne Parent Tardif, 91, beloved wife of the late Gerard J. Tardif for 60 years and endeared mother of a loving and caring family, died May 7, 2009, at a Presque Isle health care facility. She was born Dec. 16, 1917, in Van Buren, daughter of Joseph B. Parent and Sylda Lebel of Van Buren. She attended Sacred Heart elementary and secondary schools in Van Buren. Upon her graduation from the all girls’ high school, she pursued her studies at Madawaska Training School, Fort Kent, as she was interested in becoming a teacher. Upon her graduation from the two-year institution, she taught at the elementary level for several years prior to her marriage to Gerard Tardif in 1943. Moving to Forest City in 1944, where her husband was a customs inspector, she centered her attention on the care of her young family of two boys, Ronald and Philip. Living conditions then and there were quite primitive thereby placing many demands on the whole family. In 1947 the family moved to Fort Fairfield, where she continued to devote all her energies to the care and the making of her home a place of loving warmth for the family. A third son, Michael, was born in 1952 and two years later the family moved to Van Buren, where her husband became superintendent of schools. A fourth child, Joanne, was born in 1958 and when she reached school age, Anne returned to the classroom and pursued further studies to obtain her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Maine – Fort Kent. She taught at the elementary level until her retirement in 1976, after having devoted 20 years of service to the youth of Van Buren area schools. During the last years of teaching, she participated in the Follow Through program as a team leader, which she greatly enjoyed. She was an active member of St. Bruno-St. Remi Choir Society for several years. From an early age she was very fond of music, especially classical and enjoyed playing the piano throughout her retirement years. As a member of Evangeline Circle, Daughters of Isabella, Van Buren, she served as financial secretary for many years. Anne and her husband, Gerard, had the pleasure of traveling and visiting mostly in the U.S. and Canada with organized tours, thereby fulfilling an ardent desire to confirm what they had previously acquired through their schooling. Being the youngest of her family, Anne and her husband, Gerard, became providers of much needed assistance to older and ailing members of her family, especially in times of sickness. She is survived by four children and their spouses, Ronald and June Tardif of Buxton, Philip and Jeanette Tardif of East Orland, Michael and Mary Ann Tardif of Caribou and Joanne and Michael Cote of Ashland; six grandchildren, Karen and her husband, David Marsh, of Buxton, Mark Tardif and his wife, Allison, of Buxton, Rachel and her husband, Pete, of Greenland, N.H., Katherine Tardif of East Orland and Joshua and Michelle Tardif of Caribou; and five great-grandchildren, Danielle and Travis Marsh of Buxton, Andrew and Jocelyn Tardif of Buxton and Emily Anne Gordon of Greenland, N.H. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Gerard in 2003; by two sisters, Josephine Daigle and Lucie M. Parent; and by three brothers, Henry, George and Arthur Parent. Relatives and friends may call 5-8 p.m. Sunday and noon until the time of service Monday at Ouellette-Thibault Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 2 p.m. Monday at St. Bruno-St. Remi Catholic Church. Committal service and interment will be at the parish cemetery. Those who wish may contribute in her memory to Acadian Village, P.O. Box 165, Van Buren, ME 04785 or Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.
ANNE P. TARDIF
