Tanya Reed Lindquist

Whet and Diana
You two have had way more than your share of heartache in your lives on this earth. Yet you just keep on going, never blaming anyone, being so courageous no matter what. You are two of the strongest people we know and we love you and your example to us.
Danny and Jeanette John

Letter written to Tanya when she was 13 years old.
June 1, 1984 Takoma Park, Maryland


My dearest Tanya,
Thirteen and a half years ago you entered this world and my life. What a change you brought with you! Gone were those peaceful days when Dad and I could sleep in. Actually, my dearest child, you were a blessing from that first moment we saw you. The doctors had told us you had many problems, but when we saw you all the troubled thoughts left our minds. You were so BEAUTIFUL! So little and so determined, and that is the way you remained until this day. No one who ever came in contact with you (teachers, doctors, friends, therapists) ever had any doubt but that you were a very happy well-adjusted child, and that you would do well in whatever you chose to do.
One of the things I most admire about you is your positive approach to life. You approach difficult tasks with the attitude that you WILL do them.and you do, and very well done at that. I also appreciate your happiness, your cute sense of humor. I think your friends to too. People love to be around you. You are creative in your ideas of what to do and say. You have so much good influence on your sisters and brother. It's always you that organizes cleaning tasks or creative fun things.
I love your responsible attitude toward Jay, your deep love for him. He feels very strongly your care and love. I appreciate your attitude towards school and homework. I know you sometimes grumble a bit (especially about the piano), but generally I can count on you to keep up with school work and home tasks.
Most of all I love your attitude towards your Heavenly Father. You truly desire to serve him, to obey his commandments and to draw closer to him.
There are many more traits about you, my dearest Tanya, I admire and love. I am so grateful Heavenly Father chose me to be your mother. I hope you will always remember these things I have written and that you will know I have a very strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I have no greater wish than to have us return, as a family, to live eternally with our Heavenly Father.
May your life be full of Joy and Happiness, my daughter, but most of all may you know your Heavenly Father loves you..and I do too.
Your Mother

Pauline Saizon
Student Teaching Laie Elementary
Tanya Reed Kindergarten
June 3, 1996
August 28, 1995, was a very special day for me. I met Tanya Reed for the first time and my life has been richer just working with her.
I must admit that when I first saw Tanya I didn't know what to expect of her. Maybe I felt that she would have limitations, hardships, inabilities, or incapabilities. Perhaps I may have felt sorry for her-how much can I ask her to do?, etc. But let me tell you that Tanya reads minds or faces. She put me at ease immediately with her wonderful sense of humor and super self-esteem. She told me about herself and does not and never has used her so-called handicap to limit her responsibilities or capabilities.
Tanya gets along well with students, teachers, parents, and just everyone. She has deep insights to share about others. Because of her physical handicap, she has a unique 6th sense of observing handicaps in others that one cannot see. She noticed a child who had a limp. I didn't notice it. As it turned out, this child has a let shorter than the other. She noticed the child who would read lips because she had a hearing problem. She drew close to the emotionally insecure child. She worked hard with children with learning disabilities. She would hold hands with the child that was afraid to do things for the first time. For some children, going to the bathroom, cafeteria, or recess can be traumatic. Tanya knew this. That's why holding hands was important for her until they were able to let go and go on their own.
Tanya stayed in the room from 7:00 AM 5:00 PM almost daily and worked in the Curriculum Lab at BYU-H from 6:00 PM 11:00 PM. Yet, she found time to attend her student's baseball and soccer games or just to sit and listen to their problems, or just talk story.
She has a great desire to learn new things. Whenever I had a lesson or needed to talk to the children, she would be right there sitting on the side of the children listening to everything that I said.
Tanya loves to dance. She taught the class ballroom dancing. She also taught the boys how to ask the girls to dance, May I please have this dance? The girls learned to respond with, Thank you. I'd love to. It was so much fun to watch.
Tanya loves sign language, and she does it automatically as she presents her lessons or just talks with the children. She taught the class the theme song from Aladdin and Pocahontas which they performed for the PTA meeting and school assembly.
Tanya doesn't have normal shaped hands, and she uses her pointer and middle fingers to hold a pencil or chalk. Writing on the chalk board was a big challenge. She was not able to lift her arm high over her head to reach the top of the chalkboard, let alone print neatly.
She had to work hard on these two setbacks. Every morning for two months, I'd come in and analyze her written journal and make corrections on her handwriting. Not knowing at the time that she thought she was doing a terrific job. I only saw areas that she needed to improve. However, I didn't know that I was pushing her to the limit and sometimes frustration may have set in for her. She continued to work at it and improve on the areas that I wanted. Tanya had mountains and stumbling blocks placed in front of her. She has conquered the mountain and turned the stumbling blocks into stepping stones. She faced her challenged one at a time and now she looks back at where she was and how far she has gotten in conquering the chalkboard, she is the WINNER. She realized that she can overcome obstacles that she thought were okay, but now she is able to strive higher for greater challenges.
Cutting paper with scissors or using a paper cutter is a challenge for Tanya. But she worked at it and got it done. When she is given the assignment to design and prepare a bulletin board, it was an area that she was weak in. She worked on it monthly, changing the calendars and putting up the monthly design. Last month, she designed a classic art piece for April. She wove half of an Easter Basket and attached it to the bulletin board. It looked like half of the basket faced us and the other went through the wall into the classroom next door. So creative!!!
She takes the time to listen to each child. She hugs and laughs with them. She frames each art piece and neatly writes their name on it.
She teaches creative lessons in all subject areas. As I reflect on her greatest weakness and where Tanya made the greatest improvement, it would have to be in classroom management. She has learned how to be in control and how to move a classroom quietly from one setting to another. She has instilled classroom rules, and the children are now able to make their own judgements about their behavior in conjunction to the Super Citizen models. Each day, she works with the children on improving their personal values such as being a good friend, finding the best in everyone, greeting others with a smile, or making other people happy. Classroom harmony is her key.
Tanya loves music. She always integrates songs into lessons. She is able to play the piano, harp and the drums. She always has soft soothing music playing while the children are doing their work. She speaks Portuguese and Spanish. She grew up in Brazil and has traveled with her family. Her father is Director of International Research in the Department of Agriculture. Because he works in the White House, Tanya is kept abreast of current national concerns. She loves diversity; she loves people of all races.
She is so sensitive to others and I feel now that I was given a gift. Tanya Reed has taught me so much. Humor and love of life are her forte. She lives life to the fullest. Tanya Reed is so precious and sweet. She would be a welcomed gift to any school or classroom. I am a better person to have worked with her.
Because she is so multi-talented, she will seek out the best in everyone, and she will help them to strive to their fullest potential. She will be everyone's role model. Someday she will be a teacher, a mother, or whatever she desires.
I am proud to say that Tanya Reed is my special friend because she has taught me to overcome many fears that I didn't realize I had. She has been my special gift.
Sincerely,
Pauline Saizon

Tanya stories

Growing up memories
Tanya was the oldest in our family. She was the oldest cousin on BOTH mom and dad's sides. She truly was the BEST oldest sister/cousin that we could ask for. She had the mother/boss characteristics that fit this role. She always cared for everyone and made sure that everyone was included and not left out. She loved giving everyone orders and also at the same time calming the chaos.

On Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, we lived in a huge basement bedroom that included a bunk bed for us girls to sleep in, a piano for Tanya to practice, our own bathroom, and it even had a secret room where we played with Barbie dolls. Tanya shared her bed with Sonia because I moved around too much. Our parents were very strict about watching TV and we had very little TV time in our house. We played A LOT. Inside the house and outside. We had an awesome tire swing that we all loved getting pushed on. One thing about our bedroom downstairs we had pipes that were a few inches from the ceiling of our room that ran across the whole bedroom. We sure loved swinging from those pipes. Our parents instructed us that we COULD NOT swing from those pipes and how dangerous it was and we could blow the whole house down. Yet, we would still swing from the pipes when we were downstairs all by ourselves. Dad crept down the stairs so we couldn't hear him and surprised us one time midair swinging from the pipes! Oh boy!! We got in so much trouble! Never again!

I remember one time at the Takoma Park house Tanya came home from school with a cast on her arm. I still remember her coming home and she was on the porch peeking in the window waiting for someone to open up the door to let her in. I saw the cast on her arm! This was in elementary school and it was in P.E. class (if I remember correctly). She was playing dodge ball maybe and the ball pushed her arm back and I think broke it!

Tia Karen lived in Washington, DC and we loved getting to be independent and getting on the subway to go meet Tia Karen downtown. I always felt safe with Tanya and knew that nothing could go wrong. We loved visiting Tia Karen. We always ate pizza and cookies. She took us to plays and shopping. We loved visiting her work and getting to play secretary as we pretended to answer the phone and write important messages/notes on a notepad. Tia Karen had lots of make-up and shoes and fun clothes. We loved going through her stuff. She usually had some make-up or things we could play with when we visited with her for the weekend.

In high school, Tanya was in the Marching band. I was so jealous because she was with the cool kids in the band. She was with the percussion section (drums, bells, etc.) All the cool guys played the drums and Tanya was right there with them hanging out with the cool guys. She loved the Marching band and music was everything to her. Her band uniform was a little big on her. I remember she actually carried the bells around her neck (what neck?!) and marched out there. How did she carry those bells and march in the band?!? I have no idea!

Tanya played piano. We all took piano lessons at one point in our lives. Tanya had the most talent regarding anything with music. She inherited the musicality that ran in our family. I remember going to Tanya's recitals or performances. Whenever she stepped out on the stage, you could hear people gasp or see them stare at her. But once she started playing, they were in awe and amazed at her talent!

I know 1 story Tanya would tell kids especially my brother's friends or Sonia's friends (the smaller kids). Kids are always so honest and curious. They would always ask her what happened to your hands? Tanya, with her personality, would answer, I stuck my thumb in the dryer and it shrunk! Haha! She said this often until one day, one of Jay's friends, Joey actually tried to stick his thumb in the dryer because he wanted to be cool like Tanya. She stopped telling that story after that!

Tanya was the best at telling stories. At cousin's houses (sleepovers), friend sleepovers, or at campsites Tanya was so good at telling scary and fun stories. She would have everyone hooked to her story before she would yell something like BOO or whatever!

BYU-Hawaii memories
Neither Sonia nor I would have ever gone to BYU-Hawaii if it wasn't for Tanya. Tanya always had a strong desire from the beginning to go to BYUH. She didn't have the grades when she graduated from high school so she had to go to Montgomery College (community college near our house) for a couple of years. She finally was able to attend BYUH in Fall 1990. I graduated in 1991 and joined Tanya in the Fall of 1991.

At BYUH, Tanya decided that if we roomed together at the dorms that we would constantly fight. So she decided to have me live next door to her so she could keep an eye on me. Of course, dad told her to keep an eye on me anyways! I lived with Kristin (Utah) while Tanya lived with Pascaline (Tahiti). Crit (California) and Marica (Fiji) were in the room on the other side of Tanya. Tanya and I took hula class together my 1st semester there. At Christmas, we went to Arizona to be with family and performed for all of our family.

My 1st semester, there is 1 thing that I will always be grateful to Tanya for. My mom, with all of us kids, was an expert at helping us out on homework, projects, etc. When I was assigned my first essay in my college English class I came to Tanya and asked her if she'd help me. She said no. I was like WHAT?!? She said something like I know that mom helped you with your homework. I'm not going to help you or you will never learn how to do it. I threw the BIGGEST temper tantrum that a 17/18 year old girl could throw. Tanya did NOT budge. She refused to help me. I cried and cried and yelled at her to help me. She stood her ground. I did the essay somehow and to this day I thank Tanya for doing that!

Tanya was used to having a piano at our house to practice. But at BYUH, she knew where all the pianos were on campus. If we couldn't find her, especially on a Sunday, she was usually somewhere playing the piano and we would find her.

April 1st 1992 Tanya received her mission call. She was at BYUH and I was fortunate to be a part of this experience. A bunch of her friends all gathered in her dorm (hale) room while she got on the phone to call mom & dad. She opened up her call and it read that she was going to Tempe, Arizona Spanish speaking. I think that the Spanish speaking part helped her to like her mission call. However, going to Tempe?? The Reeds have tons of family in Arizona! Tanya called relatives such as aunts and uncles and no one believed her because it was April Fools day and she was telling them that she was called to Arizona! It was because of her example of going on a mission that helped me to make the decision that changed my life going on a mission!

After college life/adult life
Tanya taught piano lessons. The kids she taught would always copy her and how she plays the piano. She always had to tell them, You have thumbs USE them!!

I always loved visiting Tanya in Las Vegas. I thought it was so cool to have a sister living in Vegas. Before she got married, she lived with roommates such as Amber. I thought it was so fun to visit her and thought she was so cool! She always had make-up and good perfume! We would always do fun stuff such as movies or cool church activities or fun group activities with her friends from church.

When Gabriel was born, I was fortunate to be living in Tempe, AZ at the time. I waited a couple of days so I could come on the weekend and also give Tanya some time to get used to having a baby. I was there for the baby blessing as well. Gabriel was so tiny! He cried a lot. I think that later Tanya had to supplement formula with milk so that Gabriel would be more satisfied when eating. Tanya loved being a mom.

I was fortunate to be at Tanya's house when Breanna came home from the hospital after spending about 5 months there after her birth. Mom and I had spring break (we were teachers) and flew from MD to come visit Tanya. I clearly remember that it was in April 2004 and it was on a Wednesday when she came home. We made a big sign and hung it on the garage door. I can't remember what it said but I think it said something like Welcome home Breanna. When we first got there we would visit Breanna in the hospital. Then she actually came home while we were there! That was such an exciting thing and I am so happy I was part of that. We helped Tanya get everything ready for Breanna to come home.

I came back in the summertime to visit Tanya and Gabriel and Breanna. Those memories are so precious to me as I got to spend so much time with Breanna before she passed away in October of that year (2004). I really looked up to Tanya that summer. Being there and seeing all the things that Tanya did with Breanna it was amazing to me! She is such a wonderful mother to all of her kids! She was so busy this summer taking care of Breanna and having physical therapists and occupational therapists and nurses come to visit the home to work with Tanya, Rex and Breanna. Wow, it was amazing to watch Tanya and how she didn't stop and just kept going and going and doing everything she could for that little girl. Breanna was so blessed to have Tanya as her mom for her short time here on earth. I know it was a beautiful reunion when Tanya got to hold Breanna in her arms again.

I remember the 1st time Tanya showed me how to change Breanna's trach. She called me into Breanna's room and told me to help her change her trach. She warned me that it was nothing like changing Jay's trach. With Jay, we had to change his trach FAST or he would turn blue from not being able to breathe. With Breanna, you could take out her trach and put it aside and get something to clean her trach hole with (I'm trying to take my time here so you understand that it didn't need to be fast). You didn't need to be fast like we needed to be with Jay. It was very different.

When Breanna died, Tanya and Rex were amazing as parents and a couple. I'm sure they don't realize it but I truly looked up to them during this time. I saw a couple so strong and supportive of each other during such a tragic time for them. I can't imagine losing a daughter especially a baby. I know that they struggled and it was such an emotional time but I just remember looking up to them and how they were handling it. Again, they weren't setting out to be an example to me but I truly took a lot of strength from Tanya during this time and I think about it often when I have my own struggles.

I remember when we were surprised with the news that Camden was a new addition to our family! I couldn't be happier for Tanya & Rex & Gabriel. I was able to stop by Vegas from Hawaii on my way somewhere to meet the little guy in July so he was about 1 month old. I met up with Tanya, Gabriel and little Camden at the airport. Tanya was so happy with these 2 boys!

Tanya was an amazing older sister and I couldn't have asked for a better sister.

Tanya
Memories of my first born child.
Tanya was a fighter and achiever from the day she was born. Dr. Hatfield delivered her in Mesa, Az while I was attending school at ASU. She struggled from the first day she entered this world and fought some amazing battles throughout her life. She was an inspiration to all that met her for her tenacity, coping skills, endurance, and her ability to forge ahead with a happiness that I have rarely known. I believe she was well aware of her mission in life and was a valiant and special spirit in the preexistence. She accomplished more than most in her 45 years and her impact on all of us was without measure. Most importantly she remained faithful throughout and exceeded our expectations in every facet of her life. She was truly a joy and set the tone for our family. I was so proud of her accomplishments and privileged to have her in our family. I miss her terribly and wished I could talk to her again and communicate how much I love her and thank her for all she did for me and her family. Her love for Rex, her children, family, students, friends, relatives and the church is unmatched. No challenge was too great and her willingness to charge ahead and tackle life's trials and adventures with a joy and happiness that few experience. I have many fond memories of her early years in Arizona, Brazil, and Maryland that I will carry to my grave anxious to see her again at the end of my life. I thank my heavenly father every day for sending Tanya to me and her mother. I don't believe I will ever accomplish what she did in her 45 years and endure the adversity, hardships joy, and blessings that she did during her life time. I can't wait to hold her again.
Love,

Dad

Camden & Gabriel

I want to direct what I am about to say to you. You are blessed to have spent your whole lives so far with your mom. Do you know how many of us wishes we could spend everyday with your mom? I was blessed that I got to spend everyday with you mom for 4 years while we were in college. I want to tell you what your mom was like before she was your mom, or as I like to think of it Tanya: The Hawai'i Years.

I heard about your mom before I met her. We both started school at BYU-Hawai'i in Fall semester, 1990. We were in the same dorm, Hale Nainoa, but she on one side of the shared bathrooms and I on the other. One evening my roommate Natalie Kalama went to brush her teeth and came back at least half-an-hour later telling me all about this cool girl she met also brushing her teeth. A short time later my next-door neighbor, Heather, came back from eating dinner in the cafeteria telling me all about the funniest girl she had ever met. She said this girl had her laughing so hard she thought she was going to pee her pants. Of course, both Natalie and Heather were telling me about your mom.

Your mom has so many friends from our time at BYU-Hawai'i and many of those friends are here today at the funeral. Friends came from Utah, California, Seattle, Maryland, and even from Japan. Many of us lived together in a tiny garage on the beach, after we moved out from the dorms. We had some of the best times of our lives there, wish your mom. Here are a few memories of what your mom was like and the fun we had together:

Once we were all up late at night having fun playing cards and joking around. The conversation at some point became a debate or we were teasing each other or something, and I remember saying to your mom, Tanya, you are being a pain in the neck! Without a pause your mom shot back, I don't have a neck. Ha! The loud room suddenly became silent as we all looked at your mom in stunned silence, then everyone including your mom busted up laughing.

Another time I was dating a guy and there was a formal dance coming up. I expected him to ask me but he said he did not want to go. Meanwhile another friend of ours had asked a guy to the formal and was nervous and wanted your mom there to support her. Your mom asked me if she could ask my boyfriend to be her date so she could help out this friend, and I said yes, thinking my boyfriend had said no to me his girlfriend so he would definitely say to no anyone else. But he said yes to your mom! My own boyfriend would rather go with your mom than me to the dance. That's how cool she was.

We had some adventures that you boys are not allowed to take, like staying up all night in Waikiki. We decided we hadn't visited Waikiki or Honolulu enough so we took the 2 hour bus ride down to Waikiki and walked around all night enjoying the sights and people watching. We were poor students and we didn't have enough money for a hotel room, so we stayed up all night and watched the sun rise over the ocean. It was a lot of fun and you boys are not allowed to do that.

Tanya and I were pretty much together all the time. Everyone loved Tanya! As we would walk across campus people would say, Hey Crit. But when they say your mom they would get huge smiles across their faces and say, Tanya! What's up? Where are you going? and start walking with us and talking to her. And that did not change throughout her life. Here in Las Vegas again people who know Tanya get excited and happy to see and talk to her. Even going into 7-Eleven the people who work there are happy to see her. Some of them are even here at the funeral today. It is not often that 7-Eleven workers go to their customer's funerals, but that is the type of person your mother is. Wonderful. Everybody loves her. Look at how many people are here in this room. That shows how much she is loved.

Your mom has a great sense of humor. When we were in the dorms I would always sleep as late as possible, then jump up and hurriedly get ready for class, running out the door without time to eat breakfast. One morning this exact scenario played out and as I was running out the door your mom came and calmly said, You want to go to breakfast? I had just enough time to say, No, I can't. I'm late to class! as I was running out the door. No you're not, your mom said. I came in last night while you were sleeping and set your clock an hour ahead. So you are early and still have an hour before your class start. I was so mad! I couldn't believe she had tricked me so easily! But I was only mad for about 10 seconds, then we went and had a nice, relaxing breakfast and for once I was early to class.

As you know your mom loves 7-Eleven and Taco Bell. At some point in college your mom had a car and used to spontaneously decide she to drive all the way to Kaneohe. She would often grab me and say, Let's go to Taco Bell. So we would jump in her car and drive 1 hour round trip just for a Slurpee and a bean burrito with extra red sauce. And we loved it!

I love Tanya and am grateful for the memories I have of hanging out with her. Now, all the love I have for your mom I get to give to you. All of us who were with her at college now get to give our love for her to you. I love your family: each of you and your dad. I love your mom's family and all that they do for me, for your mom, and for you. I love your mom.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christy, Amen.


Talk given at Tanya's funeral by Crit Nichols

Tanya & Crit
More Memories

Here are some more stories of Tanya that I did not get to talk about at the funeral. I would need 4 years to tell all the memories I have of Tanya and my time together in Hawai'i, since that is how long we were there together.

Tanya was a great dancer. I was self-conscious who tried to hide my self-consciousness by standing against the wall trying to look cool (unsuccessfully). It always took me a while to warm up and get on the dance floor. At one dance Tanya tried to get me going but I wouldn't leave the wall. Knowing that I was trying to blend into the wallpaper so people wouldn't notice me she started dancing circles around me, yelling Woo! every few steps in beat with the music. I was mortified that this was attracting attention and tried to shoo her away. But she was having too much fun teasing me and teaching me that my cool attitude was anything but cool. I soon realized that I would receive less attention if I just joined Tanya on the dance floor than if I stayed motionless against the wall trying to look nonchalant while a girl was dancing and yelling all around me. So I joined her on the floor and we had a great time. I learned a lesson in being less self-conscious and in how to dance.

Here is the longer version of the night we stayed up all night in Waikiki:
At the end of our first year in Hawai'i Tanya, Heather and I decided we hadn't spent enough time in Honolulu or Waikiki. We were poor students so we couldn't afford a hotel room in Waikiki, so we decided that since it was a warm, tropical place we could stay outside all night and be OK. So we did. We took the 2 hour bus ride from the North Shore where the college is to Waikiki on Friday afternoon and spent all that evening and night walking around. Waikiki is a busy place so there was lots to see and do. Sometime around 2 or 3 AM we decided to watch the sunrise from the Pali Lookout (tall cliffs overlooking the East side of the island) so we took a taxi to the base of the cliffs with the intent to walk up the cliffs and wait for the sun. But when we got to the Pali parking lot we found a group of drunk guys. We were discussing what to do when the taxi driver told us he would not drop us off there because of these drunkards and he gave us a free trip back to Waikiki. We ended up going to the beach and watching the sunrise over the ocean. The beach was deserted and we had the whole sunrise and ocean to ourselves. By then we were exhausted from staying up all night so we feel asleep in our clothes, right there on the beach. We woke up around 10 AM to a beach full of tourists and the smell of coconut sunblock. We must have been a sight to those tourists who came to the beach and found 3 girls curled up in their clothes, sound asleep with hundreds of people sunbathing around us. Luckily we were wearing our bathing suits under our clothes so when we woke up we just stripped down to our suits and started sunbathing with everyone else.


Tanya and I decided to go on missions at the same time. We took Mission Prep classes together, filled out our papers together, and got our mission calls one day apart. I got mine first and was called to Scotland. I was ecstatic! My foreign mission call got Tanya more excited for hers as she was hoping to go to Brazil or someone foreign. Her call came on April 1: April Fool's Day. We all gathered around the phone where she had called her parents as she opened her mission call and got called to . . . Arizona! Arizona. She thought it was an April Fool's joke. Her parents were from there and she had spent tons of time there. She was not excited. The saving grace was that it was Spanish speaking. Tanya did not speak to me for the rest of that day because she was so mad that I was going foreign and she was going to . . . Arizona.
But she started to feel better about it. We had our BYU-Hawai'i mission farewell together, then we were in the MTC at the same time. Once we were each out in our missions we wrote each other. Tanya wrote all about the many people they were teaching and the multiple baptisms they were having and how busy they were and how she loved working in the Mesa Temple and then how she was an Assistant for the sister missionaries. She loved it! Absolutely. My letters talked about how we knocked on doors in the cold all day. Every day. Knocking, knocking, knocking. Very few baptisms with months in between each one. Cold. I also loved my mission, but we did not see as many people and families decide to get baptized. Not like her mom in her mission. We finished our missions at the same time and both returned to BYU-Hawai'i where we were roommates again and we got to talk about our missions to each other all the time.

So many more memories but most of them would be inside jokes or not very exciting. Little memories I have such as:

•Doing homework on the beach
•Swimming and exploring the coral in our backyard
•Taking the 2 hour bus ride to the mall in Honolulu for the few Saturday afternoons when we weren't scheduled to work
•Lighting candles and reading ghost stories when the electricity went out at night during a storm
•Playing guitar and singing More Than Words over and over again. Tanya taught me how to sing alto.
•Tanya and Biz jokingly telling Layce and I to sit on the other side of the chapel because we sang so bad and they didn't want to hear us
•Hanging out in our dorm rooms with the Fiji girls just having fun
•Light night card games in the dorms with chips, salsa and Mountain Dew
•Dancing
•Always laughing because Tanya was so funny
•Visiting Tanya in the Seasider where she worked after our missions
•Visiting her when she worked at PCC cleaning the grounds
•Turning the music for her when she played piano at church
•Having a turtle as a pet when we lived in The Garage. Our friend Sarajan found it and gave it to us. We built a little enclosure outside for it to live in and named it Parker. It finally escaped and ran away to live a free life.
•Me being so jealous of her and Sonia when they got to spend the summer in Alaska. They hooked me up after they returned and I got to work there after I graduated.
•Tanya and I always looked out for each other. I was very protective of her physically and she was protective of me socially (I am a bit socially awkward). We complimented each other that way.

Tanya, as one of your mission companions, I'll always remember your amazing sense of humor and your absolutely immovable testimony of our Savior and His gospel. I love you!

Tanya played many roles in my life.

First, she was one of my dear Relief Society sisters for the last 9 years. She was an outstanding example of charity, compassion, service, Christ-centered living and enduring-to-the-end WELL! I hope to be more like her one day.

Second, she was a friend. I loved to visit with Tanya! I always enjoyed learning of her perspective and approach to life. She was very straight-forward and I appreciate that.

Third, she was one of my fellow "mom of boys". It was her goal to raise strong, motivated, independent, respectful boys, just as is my goal with my boys. It was always rejuvenating for me to share together the trials, challenges and joys of raising a household of boys.

Fourth, she was my youngest son's kindergarten teacher this year...and he LOVED her! She was so patient and encouraging to her class. When I would go into the classroom to help, I was amazed every time at the amount of energy that she maintained in order to teach all-day kindergarten. She was a profound example of strength, gumption, delight, and hard-work.

I am excited for her to have "girl-time" with her daughter. What a sweet, tender mercy. However, for her three boys that have been left behind for now, I wish you peace in the years to come without Tanya's physical presence in your life. But I know she is looking out for you still. McKoy says he feels like she is watching him sometimes when he is at school. I am sure she is still watching over you and many others. Her charity was far-reaching. Much love and prayers to you all.

I am blessed to have met Tanya, and to have learned of her extraordinarily full life over the years. Her passing is a loss to so many. I will miss her and think of her often.

Our deepest heartfelt sympathy to all of Tanya's many family members. I only met her once, at her sister's wedding, but know of her many challenges and the courageous way she met them all through her life. She will be looking down with love on everyone she so deeply cared for.

When I think of Tanya, I think of a mother who always wanted her boys to learn and work. I was fortunate to be in Scouts as one of Gabriel's leaders and there were many times that this was evident as we spoke with her before or after our activities. She did not want her boys to be babied and that was very evident by Tanya's personality. I will forever be touched by her example of raising tough boys!

I have a lot of good memories of Tanya, because we were in the same grade in school, lived in the same neighborhood, and came to be friends. She was kind hearted, good-spirited, bright, and fun to be around. In spite of having faced so many difficulties she was unusually positive and confident. I will miss her. May God comfort and strengthen her family through this great loss.

My heart breaks for all of you. Tanya was so loved and an inspiration for us all. And, I loved looking through your photo gallery.

Dear Diana and Whetten: We are so sorry to hear your family's sad news. Tanya was indeed a remarkable person. We appreciate the positive influence you and all your family have had in our lives, and treasure the years of association as brothers and sisters in the gospel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.

We were so deeply saddened to hear of Tanya's passing. We send our deepest condolences and love to your entire family. Tanya was an inspiration to all. How blessed your family has been to share your incredible life journeys and joys. Your strength, unconditional love, care for others and dedication to making this world a better place has touched so many. May you find comfort during these difficult times knowing you are surrounded by the love of so many. You are in our daily thoughts and prayers.

I am so deeply saddened to hear of Tanya's passing. I keep in my heart all of the stories I have heard about her strength and inspiring personality from her proud parents. My thoughts and prayers are with her dear friends and family.

Tanya touched so many people's lives because of her positive attitude about her condition. She was an inspiration to those she came in contact with. She will be missed but her spirit will live on. Our love and prayers go with you and you family during this difficult time. What a happy reunion she is having on the other side with Breanna and Jay and her grandpa, LaVor. Love,

We offer our prayers and send our sympathies for those who have been left behind by Tanya's passing. She was truly an amazing woman as evidenced by her accomplishments in spite of the challenges she had to face during her mortal sojourn. We can all take comfort in knowing that this was not an end but only a short separation prior to an eternity of happiness and peace to come.

We are so honored to be Aunt Lana and Uncle Gary to such a wonderful niece. Tanya was such an example to all of how we should live our lives. She was a witty, intelligent, compassionate, giving person. She never complained or gave up and loved life to the fullest. We especially loved her humor, her smile and her laugh. She will be greatly missed.
Love to All,
Aunt Lana and Uncle Gary

My condolences to the Lindquist family. Mrs. Lindquist was my daughters kindergarten teacher, she made such a positive impact in her life as well as my own. Such a positive person and strong spirit gone too soon. I will cherish the fun memories from the fishing booth at the school festival. Even though it's been a while, I clearly remember the last time I saw her. Her positive words that day made and impact and have always stayed with me.

We are extremely saddened by Tanya's passing. We knew her mainly through her parents to whom we are close. They shared much of Tanya's many trials and we put up many prayers on her behalf as she underwent many surgeries at Johns Hopkins near where we lived in Silver Spring Maryland near her parents. Both she and her brother Jay were amazing examples of courage and strength, and we are sure many blessings await her beyond the veil as she meets with Jay again and awaits the rest of her family.
With our most sincere love and condolences, Richard & Janet Just

I am from Louisiana visiting my grandchildren here. I did not personally know Tanya but I did know her through my grandson that is in kindergarten and I did get to see who she was at the school's award ceremony recently. He was so excited to join the garden club that she was the head of at school. He has consistently said Mrs. Lindquest is his favorite teacher. There were and still are days he comes home and tells me things about her. He has deeply been affected by her passing and I believe she will be in his life forever. I have also heard through others that she very much liked by all the children that knew her. I know she will be deeply missed. I hope her family can find some comfort in knowing that she has made such a great difference in so many little lives and of someone like me that didn't even know her.

To the Lindquist and Reed Family, you are in my thoughts and I'm praying for your strength. Continue to cherish the beautiful times you shared with Tanya. This will provide comfort and make this difficult period much more bearable.

We are so deeply saddened to hear of Tanya's passing. She brought life and joy to all around her, and we remember her huge smile and spirit of optimism. We send our love and prayers to all of you.

Tanya was truly an amazing spirit and full of life! She touched my life and all those she was in contact with! Heavenly Father has other plans for her, but she will be greatly missed!
Edith Twitchell

Rex, I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Life passes too quickly and it has been years since I have spent time with Tanya or any of the Reeds. From what I have been able to gather however, the last half of her life has been just as magnificent as the first. Tanya, and all the Reeds for that matter, thank you for your friendship to me and my family and your never ending example of dealing with life with grace, humor and perseverance. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I will never know a more courageous person than Tanya, but that courage is certainly matched by her loving, brave parents who stood beside her every step of the way encouraging her to soar. I can only imagine the heights she can now reach without the constraints of her body, but I can only imagine how difficult this life will be for her family without her loving support. My prayers are with all of the Reeds and the Lundquists.
Geri Nelson

Sending many prayers to those who loved and knew Tanya. She and her entire family have been a continuing inspiration to me and to so many others. With deepest condolences.

Tanya was a great inspiration to all us. She was always smiling and happy. We will miss her sweet spirit and her laugh. I am lucky to have known her and consider her a friend

Our deepest condolences. Paul, Mara and Caleb Lynch

My condolences to Lindquist Family. My daughter was In Mrs. Lindquist Kinder class this year and she loved her dearly. She drew her pictures and note cards at least every week letting her know how awesome she was and loved having her as a teacher. We feel like we have lost a family member as well. I pray for comfort, strength and healing for her family, friends and all her Kinder students that loved her so much.

Didn't know Tanya Lindquist very well, but she was always so kind and cheerful. She was such a nice and wholesome individual. May the Lord bless and watch over her family.

Tanya, my dear, I am so sorry you are gone so soon. We will miss you terribly because you were funny and beautiful, and brave enough to go through your difficult life without complaining. From now on, whenever we need to be strong, we will think of you and the many examples you left with all of us. We know your parents are some of the best God ever provided, and many of us owe them a lot, too, for the time and kindness they have shown us during difficult times. And as I go on with my life, I hope you won't mind if I give you a virtual hug when I stop and find the happiness life gives me.

Whetten and Diana, Lot's of love and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time. While I never had the chance to meet your daughter, just knowing all that she accomplished in life despite challenges makes her an inspiration.

Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this difficult time in your lives. May the many wonderful memories of Tanya help console your hearts, and may the Lord bless you with love, peace, and hope.
The Staff of Palm Northwest Mortuary, Shannon, Shane, Michael, Kelly, Amanda and Brianne.

I remember with such gratitude how Tanya volunteered her time to help Camden and our daghter's kindergarten class everyday because the school couldn't provide a teaching assistant and the class was huge. It was just one of many times that Tanya saw a need, and threw herself into the work thinking of the needs of others before her own. Her example of Christ's perfect love will always be with our family.

My daughter was blessed to have Ms. Lindquist as a teacher last year. We are heart broken and send our deepest condolences, and prayers to her family. She made a lasting impression on our daughter (and everyone) with her intelligence, humor, toughness, and beauty. She had such a great outlook on life that will never be forgotten! She is forever in our hearts.
- The Reinbold Family

When we were 8 years old, Tanya and I took turns receiving baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am certain I have that program somewhere in my personal history collection. I hope the program shows that we were wise enough for "Sisters first".
It has been many years since I last saw Tanya. But "happiness" is what rises in my mind as I picture her. That is a virtuous legacy.

"Indomitable" describes Tanya Lindquist. Despite challenges, setbacks and obstacles, she would not be conquered. She faced all of life's trials with faith to overcome all. No problem was too big, no test was too hard, no impediment was too large that would keep her from gaining her desires. The Lord will bless her for that faith. And gratefully, she taught that trait of faith to her family to carry them past this struggle so that they can be together again in God's kingdom.

Your family is in our most sincere thoughts and prayers.

A lovely spirit, too soon gone. May you all continue to feel her love and influence, as well as the Lord's comfort in your sadness. Sending love and prayers.

Mr. and Mrs. Reed, my family and I wish to express our condolences for your loss. We will pray for you, and for Tanya.

I have always admired Tanya for her wonderful excitement for life in spite of many challenges. She lived her life to the fullest. You can be proud of the person she has become. Now as she goes on to the next part of her life she will continue with the same excitement she has had here, Meeting her daughter and Jay will bring such joy to her, You know that her life goes on and can be at peace because of this. May you and her family find peace.

You two must have been awesome parents to have been sent such extraordinary children. May you find peace and comfort in knowing where Tanya is. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Whetten and Diana, Your family opened your home and hearts to ours when we moved to Maryland many years ago sharing holidays and laughter. You were in some ways the closest relatives our children knew when they were young. Our arms and hearts are open wide with the love we have for your family at this time. Since Tanya was off at college and on her mission in our early years at your home, we got to know her better on her visits back to Maryland in recent years. We will remember and celebrate her wit and wisdom and try to emulate the courage she portrayed in her visits to Hopkins. God bless you all. Love, Your East Coast cousins - The Townes, Steve, Ann, Julie, Christine, Rob & Mike

Dr. & Ms. Reed,

I am deeply saddened by the loss of your daughter and would like to extend my condolences to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Margie Jordan

Lots of prayers and strength for your whole family. I never met Tanya, but I know what a wonderful father and mother she has.

My earliest memory of Tanya is in College Park ward when she was eight years old. At that time if someone wanted to bear their testimony they stood up in place and waited for a deacon to bring them a microphone. Tanya stood and waited and waited and waited.but because she was so little the boys with microphones didn't see her. But she was patient and determined and would not be deterred and finally had her turn when most would have given up. May God bless you all with a flood of good memories of her life and accomplishments,

Tanya is a beautiful person. I feel lucky to know her. I just can't imagine this world without her. Her smile, personality, generosity, knowledge & wisdom will truly be missed by all those who have had to opportunity to meet her. She has left an imprint on all hearts she has touched. Until we meet again Tanya. Peace & love to Tanya's family.

Our prayers are with your family - Tanya's passing just doesn't seem possible. Everything people have been writing about her shows the type of person she was. Our deepest sympathies for everyone who knew and loved her.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Tanya was one of the sweetest girls I knew during my teen years! We always had so much fun at stake activities and girls camp. She always had a smile for everyone and never once complained. I loved it when I could make her laugh. I can still hear in my head how she sounded when she laughed. I admired her strength of spirit and her sense of humor. I have no doubt that she was an amazing wife and mother. Peace to you Tanya and may the Lord bless the ones you left behind with peace and love.