Armand J. Tardif Jr.

 

Armand J. Tardif Jr., 71, of Biddeford, Maine, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 9, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Armand (Junior) was born on January 14, 1947, to Armand J. Tardif Sr. and Ethel Dreda Tardif (Martel).

Armand attended Biddeford High School where he participated in track and field and held the school pole vaulting record for a period of time. He graduated in 1965. On July 23, 1966, he married his high school sweetheart, Muriel Bergeron. Together they raised 10 children, five daughters and five sons.

Armand worked as a master plumber for 50 years. He was a member of the Gideons International, serving as the president of the Saco Valley Camp. As a Christian and a man of faith he fully embraced his calling to spread the Word of God. He made multiple trips to Tanzania where he helped establish an orphanage and provided support to local churches and many families. 

He taught Sunday School and served as deacon of Oak Ridge Bible Church in Biddeford. He visited local nursing homes providing fellowship and conducting Bible studies.

He volunteered at the polls for the Biddeford Republican City Committee and served as their chaplain from 2006 to 2014.

Armand met life with unmatched passion and enthusiasm in everything he did, whether it was his job, his call to do God's work, spending time with his family, or everything else in between. He found joy in it all, and he shared that joy effortlessly with everyone. The relationships that he built were a constant source of inspiration and fueled his love for the everyday things. He enjoyed hunting with his sons and grandsons, clamming with his "girls," and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. Little made him smile brighter than supporting his grandchildren at their various sporting events and performances. He relished in their accomplishments and cherished every moment. He had immeasurable gratitude for all of God's gifts and it was evident in the way he lived his life.

Armand was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by: his loving wife of 52 years, Muriel; his 10 children, five daughters: Selena Tardif and her partner, Scott Bennett, Sheryl Langevin and husband, Ken, Sharon Forcier and husband, Gary, Carrie Buchanan, Laura Walton and husband, Dennis, and five sons: Jeffrey Tardif and wife, Jennifer, Rodney Tardif and wife, Jennifer, Eric Tardif, Joshua Tardif and wife, Angie, and Thomas Tardif and wife, Alyssa; 23 grandchildren: Brandon Forcier, Britney, Cassandra, Hannah and Adrianna Ledoux, Samuel Buchanan, Emili Tardif Beaulieu and husband, Marc, Rebecca and Cooper Tardif, Brooke and Matthew Tardif, Dylan, Dawson, Khloe, and Cole Tardif, Jakob, Elijah, and Isaiah Tardif, Cheyenne, Grace, Keaira, and Caleb Tardif, Oliver Tardif; and two great-granddaughters: Elizabeth Baumann and Maisy Beaulieu. Armand is also survived by: four sisters, Dorothy Lauzon of Rhodes Island, Lucille Metcalf of Pennsylvania, and  Rita Roberge and Elaine Marcoux of Biddeford; and two brothers, George Tardif and Fred Tardif of Biddeford; and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 14 at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, Maine. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Elm Street, Biddeford.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gideons International - Saco Valley Camp, P.O. Box 725, Biddeford, Maine 04005.

To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.