Obituary of Tara Bernice Sandgathe

March 7, 1961 – Calgary, Alberta

February 8, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

Tara Bernice Sandgathe of Calgary, AB, passed away due to a sudden illness on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at the age of 60 years.

Tara was born in Calgary on March 7, 1961, to John (Jack) Sandgathe and June Kilgannon. She was born with hydrocephalus, and shortly afterwards developed epilepsy. At five years old she caught life threatening equine encephalitis, which left her with Cerebral Palsy and a severe scoliosis. As a child, she underwent several extended hospitalizations including two very long stays for surgeries intended to correct her scoliosis, both of which failed. While living in Calgary, she attended a school and clinic for children living with cerebral palsy, and when her family moved to Brooks, Alberta in 1973, she transitioned to the public school system there. Tara enjoyed extracurricular activities such as swimming, Brownies and Girl Guides. She attended junior high school up to grade 9 in High River, Alberta, and then went on to work activities at the Vocational Rehabilitation Research Institute (VRRI) in Calgary, where she sorted coupons, worked in the sewing shop, and acted as an Information Resource Officer.

After high school, she lived in a L’Arche group home in Calgary for a short time, then moved into an apartment near Chinook Mall, where she lived on her own for over twenty years. During that time, she attended St Anthony’s church, volunteered, and maintained a large network of family, friends, and acquaintances. She spent a great deal of time at Chinook Centre, where she developed many acquaintances over the years. During this time, she began taking painting lessons through Cactus Art Studios and became a very accomplished artist.

When she was unable to live independently any longer, Tara lived in several group homes where she continued to volunteer and do her painting. She used her computer to play games and maintain a large social network. 

Tara was adventurous, taking several trips including pilgrimages to Lourdes in France and Guadeloupe in Mexico. In recent years, she embraced the experience of attending Camp Horizon, where she was thrilled to try zip lining, rock climbing, and river rafting (once during a thunder and lightning storm), as well as crafts and karaoke.

In September 2012, Tara moved to the Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning Center where she maintained an active social life and made many new friends. She became a friend and advocate for a number of residents at Fanning Centre and sponsored several children. Having experienced a number of serious bullying and abuse episodes in her own life, Tara was passionate about causes that tackle injustice for other people, such as Pink Shirt Day and Orange Shirt Day.

Changes to lifestyle in long term care due to the Covid pandemic over the past two years were hard for Tara, as they significantly limited her ability to stay connected to her network of friends and family. She adapted by keeping in touch with family through videoing, and she took up writing, documenting her life in a memoir entitled “The Ups and Downs of Life.” At the time of her death, she was working on a second book entitled “Hanging On,” planning activities for residents and staff of Fanning Centre for Pink Shirt Day, as well as planning her upcoming birthday celebration with residents she was close to.

Tara is survived by her six siblings, Shannon (Joe), Jim (Sonia), Gerry (Janice), Maureen (Dave), Dennis (Tracey), TJ (Sue); and by numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Jack Sandgathe (December 16, 2018), and her mother, June Sandgathe (nee Kilgannon, April 2, 2010).

A Celebration of Tara’s Life will be held at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church (5340 – 4 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta) on Friday April 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to support the recreation therapy program Tara participated in at (http://carewest.ca/dir/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Carewest-Donation-form-Dec-2020.pdf, and on the form Choose “Direct Donation To”, Unit: Site/Program and specify “Carewest Dr Fanning Center EQual Recreation Program”), or Camp Horizon Bragg Creek (https://easterseals.ab.ca/camp-horizon/). Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Tara Sandgathe, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.