Obituary of Andrea Tardij

Andrea left us far too soon, a victim of liver and kidney failure. She was born in London, Ontario to Mark and Maureen (nee Mulholland) Evered. ACE, as she liked to be called, was a wish-come-true for her older sister Lisa. Four years later the sisterhood expanded to three with the birth of Katy. The family moved to Saskatoon in 1984, where Andrea would later meet her beloved husband Kevin. Andrea received a Certificate and Diploma in Early Childhood Education from SIAST (now Saskatchewan Polytechnic), after early studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Her passion was quality care and education of children. She taught for a number of years at Emmeline Preschool before setting up services in her home, loving, guiding and supporting the young lives in her care. Andrea and Kevin Tardij were married in 2011 when Kevin surprised her with his Christmas proposal on a family trip to British Columbia. Their frequent visits with friends to the warm sunny seasides of Mexico were Andrea's favourite way to escape Canadian winters. Perhaps it was the year she spent in Australia as a child that inspired these vacations. Andrea lives on in her two wonderful children, Jennifer Evered (1996) and Xavier Zbetnoff (2005). They are by far the greatest legacy of their remarkable Mom. They will miss her dearly but continue to thrive on the memories of her love, devotion and guidance. Andrea, ever the gracious host and keen listener, will also be missed by the many neighbours and friends who counted on her to enliven any occasion with her quick wit and funny way of seeing life. Family members left to mourn include her husband Kevin Tardij, her children Jennifer Evered and Xavier Zbetnoff (father Phill Zbetnoff), Kevin's daughter Kayla Tardij, parents Mark and Maureen Evered, sister Lisa Evered (husband Curtis Rabuka, sons Jacob and Isaiah), sister Katy Fay (husband Cowan Fay, son Grayson), and many aunts, uncles and cousins from coast to coast. A private memorial service was held on July 3rd. To honour Andrea and her passion for quality pre-school care and education, her family has established an endowment, the Andrea Christine Evered (ACE) Tardij Memorial Bursary, to support a student studying Early Childhood Education at the University of the Fraser Valley. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, the family suggests you consider contributing to this bursary. Gifts may be mailed directly to the University of the Fraser Valley Advancement Office, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M8, attn: ACE Tardij Bursary, or made on-line at www.ufv.ca/giving under Donate Now.