Tara Lee Thiessen

Tara was a busy little girl who loved her dolls, pets, and family. She was creative and adventurous, with a big imagination.

As she grew up, she loved children and babysat throughout the neighbourhood. Her caring nature was also appreciated by residents and staff at the Valhaven Seniors’ Home and MSA Manor, where she worked as a teenager. She loved to be active, enjoying running, roller blading, hiking, etc. She also liked to sew and to cook, although her early culinary efforts met with somewhat mixed reviews.

Tara understood God’s plan for her salvation from a young age. At 16, she accepted Christ as her Saviour and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in Abbotsford, where she was active in the youth group.

Tara had an independent nature, and at 18, she left home to pursue her own dreams. In 2004 she met Woody Hunter and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. They married in 2005, and their son Ivan was born on July 5, 2011, bringing much joy and love to her life.

Tara worked hard as a waitress while she trained to become an RN, graduating in 2019.

During this time, she began to struggle with alcohol addiction, and despite several attempts to rehabilitate she lost hope and gave up the fight.

We are thankful that we can commit Tara into the hands of the loving, merciful God, who is fair and just in all things.

To those of us who really knew Tara, she will forever be in our memories as the dearest daughter, the best sister, the “funnest” auntie, the most caring friend that we could have wished for.

Left to mourn Tara’s passing are her son, Ivan Hunter, Phoenix, AZ; parents, Russell and Rhonda, Abbotsford, BC; two brothers, Jason and Susan, Abbotsford, BC, and Ryan and Sheila, Swan River, MB; one sister, Tracey, Abbotsford, BC; four nieces, and five nephews.

A service in Tara’s memory will be held on January 8, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at the Sun Valley Mennonite Church, located at 12313 W, Desert Cove, El Mirage, AZ.