Tanya Reed Lindquist

From the beginning Tanya was tiny, but interestingly that is not how we all think of her. She was always BIG sister, eldest child, first grandchild, friend with the largest heart and fierce advocate of children of all ages. Her boys always felt she loomed largely and protectively over them.

She never took the easy path and consequently managed to live her life to the fullest, never shrinking from obstacles or challenges. And there were many.

She was born in Mesa, Arizona while her Dad was a student at ASU and her Mom a teacher. When Tanya was little her family moved to Brazil where she mastered Portuguese. By first grade the family had taken up residence in first Takoma Park, Maryland and then Silver Spring, Maryland where she remained until she left for Hawaii and college.

Hawaii was wonderful for Tanya. Polynesians tend to focus on the heart rather than physical characteristics. She studied for 3 years and then took a break to serve an LDS Spanish speaking mission in Tempe, Arizona. Tanya had a natural ability to lead, listen, and resolve issues and her Mission President made her his special assistant over Sister missionaries.

After her mission she went back to Hawaii and finished her degree in Elementary Education. Her first teaching job took her to Las Vegas where she eventually found her beloved

Rex. She taught pre-school age children for a few years up until Gabriel was born. She left teaching to take up her all time favorite position in life as a wife and mother. A couple of years later sweet Breanna was born. Tanya’s challenges continued with her baby girl’s birth and eventual death a year later.

Their happiness was once more full to overflowing a couple of years later with the arrival of Camden.

These last 3 years Tanya returned to teach kindergarten, greatly enhancing the sphere of those who felt her fierce but loving advocacy of both children and families of her kindergartners.

So now we say good-bye to our beloved Tanya. She leaves a huge void in the lives of all who know her. This includes her family and friends, but also many she interacted with on a casual basis. To say we will miss her is an understatement. However, as Deiter F. Updorf stated, “In His plan, there are no true endings, Only everlasting beginnings”.

In Lieu of flowers

Please send donations to:

Johns Hopkins Hospital

855 N. Wolfe Street, Rangos 550, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Please make checks to JHU and memo line designation to Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias.

Go Fund Me:

https://gofundme.com/jdr9nqvw