Tara DioGuardi

Tara - caring wife, loving mother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, and friend of many - passed away on November 7, 2022 at the age of 45 in White Plains, New York after her courageous battle with cancer.

Tara was born to Louis and Dawn Renzi on March 9, 1977 at Saint John’s Riverside Hospital. Tara was a life-long resident of Yonkers and simply loved the city she called home. Tara attended P.S. 22, Emerson Middle School, and Saunders Trades and Technical High School where she graduated in 1995 with a diploma in cosmetology. As a teenager she worked at various salons in Yonkers, including Lang’s in Nepera Park and Above the Crowd in the Cross County Shopping Center.

Upon graduating from high school, Tara worked in Manhattan for Vidal Sassoon and Hair Club For Men. Later she worked for Supercuts Hair Salon in Scarsdale, New York before leaving for a job with the City of Yonkers. Tara served at Yonkers City Hall for 16 years; working for two different mayoral administrations. Tara truly loved her job and everyone that she met along the way, loved her. Tara later moved on to the Yonkers Parking Violation Bureau where she made lasting friendships with co-workers as well as those who came in to pay their parking fines.

Tara loved cutting hair and continued to do so in her spare time; often visiting the homes of family and friends. She also loved supporting her local police and fire department. Tara volunteered her time cutting hair for the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation through the Yonkers Police Department’s PBA as well as for the Yonkers Fire Department’s Local 628 Firefighters’ Union where she visited sick children at the Ronald McDonald House.

For Tara, family was everything. She adored her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; as they did her. She was godmother to her nephew Brandon and niece Erin.

Tara loved entertaining and always made sure to see everyone during the holidays. She was a phenomenal cook and baker. Tara made the best desserts and treats and never attended a gathering without bringing, not one but several different trays of her famous chocolate chip cookies, brownies, cakes, puddings, and pies.

Tara loved to shop and was always the giver. This was never more evident then when she would show up to her cancer treatments bearing gifts for the nurses, doctors, and security personnel. Tara always thought of everyone.

Tara was the life of the party. She loved to dance and made sure to spend time with everyone in attendance. When Tara attended a graduation ceremony, a school play, a dance recital, or any other event, you knew Tara was there! Tara’s pride and support was on full display and evident to everyone in attendance. When Tara was in the crowd, she was you biggest and loudest fan.

Tara wanted so dearly to be a mother and she did just that on March 26, 2012. Born to Tara and Eric was a beautiful baby boy they named Lorenzo. She was a selfless mother to the very end, always putting her son first. There was not mountain high enough that Tara could not climb when it came to Lorenzo. Tara was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer when Lorenzo was just five years old. Tara fought this aggressive form of breast cancer as only a true warrior could. Tara’s faith in God, her determination, her positive attitude, and her fearlessness was to be admired by all. Tara loved life, her family, friends and all those she came into contact with. God broke the mold when she came into this world. She will forever be missed.

Tara is survived by her husband, Eric; their son Lorenzo; her parents Louis and Dawn, her two brothers, Dean and Eric Renzi; along with many adoring nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and support team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the ER and CCU medical teams at White Plains Hospital for their compassionate care of Tara. They'd also like to thank all of their family and friends for their continuous support and prayers

Visiting hours will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Friday 3-8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Annunciation Church on Saturday November 12th at 9:45am. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.