Irmgard L.Tardiff

Irmgard Tardiff, 83, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, December 14, 2018 with her daughter-in-law and best friend both at her side. She was born in Repperndorf, Germany, a small village in northern Bavaria, on July 25, 1935, to Richard and Anna (Brixner) Zirkelbach. Irmgard was their only daughter along with three brothers, Frederich ("Fritz"), Alfred, and Reinhold, two of whom pre-deceased her. Fritz lives in Remseck, near Stuttgart, with his wife, Monika.Irmgard's life had many joys but there were early sorrows. She grew up in World War II Germany, where, like most of Europe, her family lost much. Despite the war around them, Anna Zirkelbach managed to raise a family where love abounded and wore a smile every day of her life.Irmgard met and married Paul Tardiff in 1956, when she quickly succumbed to his good looks and started a family. Paul, Irmgard, John, and James arrived in Maine in 1961, first in Springvale and then moving to Sanford in 1967. Irmgard worked hard her entire life in the various dress, shoe, and weaving factories in the area and still had enough energy at the end of the day to take her sons, and their friends, to the lake on hot summer days. She was a gifted seamstress who not only hemmed and repaired but also made a beautiful wedding dress with her daughter-in-law, Sharon. Irmgard was also an outstanding cook and loved preparing her German dishes for family and friends that she described as "halbe hochzeiten", or "half weddings".Tragically, James passed away unexpectedly in 2001, a pain she kept deep inside but would never disappear from her voice or her eyes.Irmgard was a lovely and gentle woman who required very little to make her happy. Nothing, however, made Irmgard happier than her family but especially her grandchildren, Justin, Andrew, Jeffrey, Nathan, and Elliot. She was also a great-grandmother to Jaxson. Together with Paul, she would beam with delight as they let their grandsons make forts with sofa pillows and then, a few years later, need them to solve all of their connectivity issues. Irmgard would then reward them with comfy pajamas that she would sew. Paul passed away in 2007 but Irmgard was able to enjoy her grandsons' success by proudly attending college and graduate school commencements.After retiring, Irmgard enjoyed spending Tuesdays and Thursdays at the YMCA with her Pool Pals and had many circles of friends who remained with her throughout her life. With lessons learned from her mother, Irmgard always found time for her friends, which was repaid by their patience and generosity as Irmgard began to develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. Through it all, Irmgard's heart never diminished until it simply grew too tired at the very end. She will live in the hearts of her family and friends forever.A memorial service celebrating Irmgard's remarkable life will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 11:00 A.M. with an hour of visitation prior, at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, Springvale. Interment will be held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Somersworth, NH. Donations, in place of flowers, can be made to the Alzheimer's Association. The family would also like to express their deep appreciation for the hospice support provided by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital during her final days.To leave a message of condolence click condolence tab at left.