Roger L. Tardini, 84

Roger Ludvic Tardini passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 27, 2015, of pancreatic cancer. He was born to Ludovico and Francesca Tardini on March 4, 1931.

In 1954, Roger and his family immigrated from Italy to Melbourne, Australia. He loved Australia and soon after sponsored his brother, Giulio, and his parents to live in Melbourne as well. He built the family’s first home by himself and added a guest house for his growing family. For employment he pursued his love of engineering as a research and development engineer, and then as a process and control systems/instrumentation engineer. His work included the design and commissioning of Oil & Gas Refineries, Power Plants, Sewage Treatment and Chemical plants constructed around the world. He moved from Melbourne to Sydney, Australia, in 1974.

In 1979, he was offered employment in Canada and the United States so he immigrated to the USA and continued to work for Ralph M. Parsons Co. in Los Angeles. He met and married his wife, Rae, and lived in La Canada, Calif., until they retired to North Idaho in 1994.

He was a true Renaissance man. He painted beautiful oil paintings, created wonderful woodwork pieces and remodeled many of their homes, utilizing his skills of carpentry, tiling and upholstery. He also loved to cook, listen to opera, and play the piano, accordion and button box. He spoke five languages. His favorite pastime was entertaining and traveling with Rae.

He was a member and former Grand Knight of St. Thomas Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Rae, of 33 years; and his children, Giselle (Sam) Spozio, Louis (Carla) Tardini, Vivian (Andrew) Spilva, Susan (Peter) Osborne and Julia Tardini, all from Australia; and his stepdaughter, Erin (Chris) Gurtcheff of California. He also leaves 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another due in January. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Luigi, Alberto and Giulio.

Roger’s family would like to thank Kootenai Cancer Center doctors, nurses and aides for the wonderful care he received over the past two years.

A vigil and rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. today, Nov. 1, 2015, at English Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, followed by burial at St. Thomas Cemetery.

You may visit Roger’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.