January 25, 1966 was a cold winter day in Rochelle, IL, but it warmed up considerably when Andrea J. Canter Mathis was born. From the beginning Andrea was strong and independent, and these traits continued throughout her life. June 28, 2023 was a hot summer day in Phoenix, but it became chilly when Andrea left us for her heavenly home. She left us here with the strength of her love and the thousands if not millions of memories of our times with her. Andrea went through a lot as a girl growing up, but thru it all she leaned on her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as well as her many friends and family. Her mother passed when she was just 15, but she went on, leaning on Jesus and other family. Being very gifted musically, she used her talents by singing and acting in high school plays and musicals. She attended one year of college on a music scholarship, but left when she felt the Lord had called her into ministry. She along with her youngest sister Stephanie moved to Tulsa, OK where they found their “second family,” Ken and Fran Miller. Andrea began attending and then later served on staff as part of the worship team at The Prayer Center with Dave Roberson Ministries. This is where her ministry launched. She traveled the country and even to Israel leading worship at churches and conferences as well as participating in intercessory roles for other Ministries. In 2001 she recorded her worship CD which was completely Spirit-birthed, most of it in the studio while recording. She also worked as a nanny to multiple families in Tulsa, Memphis, and eventually New York City. It was while there she met her future husband and love of her life Tom through an online group. They married Feb 9, 2006, and she moved to Scottsdale to be with Tom and begin her life as wife to Tom and stepmother to Adam, a special needs boy who immediately fell in love with “Minna” as he called her. She was equally captivated with him and could not have loved him more had she given birth to him. She became his full-time caregiver and eventually licensed for Respite Care. She and Tom later would go through the state requirements for their home to be an Adult Developmental Home and Mark came into their lives as he moved in with them. Later, Jessica would join them and then sweet Adam went to heaven on June 30, 2022. Andrea would follow him less than a year later. She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara Canter, her grandparents R.V. and Pauline Childers, sister Connie Haney, and beloved uncles Dewey Childers and Don Childers.
She leaves behind Tom Mathis, her husband, Mark Strube her foster son and Jessica White, her foster daughter. She considered them “her kids.” She also leaves behind her sister Risa (Michael) Utley of Mt. Juliet, TN, sister Stephanie White of Mountain View, AR and numerous nieces and nephews. She was known among them as T.C.A., the coolest aunt and also by “Andi.” She also leaves behind her best friend of all time Judy Green and her best AZ friend and neighbor, Kathleen Hoffmann, as well as too many close friends to count. She will be laid to rest with her beloved Adam at San Tan Memorial Gardens in Queen Creek, AZ, Monday July 10, 2023 at 9am, with Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care in charge of arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held shortly after at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Mesa. Services will be officiated by her beloved pastor of many years, Pastor Bronc Flint.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a Christian-based charity or ministry that is involved with helping those in need.
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