Obituary of Brenda Dawn Tataryn

Brenda Dawn Tataryn, 66, of Quesnel, British Columbia passed peacefully at home with her husband by her side on March 25th, 2023.

She was born to Norman and Amanda (Mandy) Thideman, on May 7th in Preeceville, Sask, before relocating west into Wells,BC. As a kid, she later moved to West Quesnel where she raised hell and roamed along Baker creek, to Sugarloaf and beyond. As a teen, Brenda began working in the bush marking logs, later, operating and organizing iron for her father and uncle at Thideman Logging. Officially learning the business from her dad, she shouldered the office duties and acquired the Company in 1988, on her dad’s passing.  Brenda was a fierce advocate for fair business practices within the logging industry in BC. She joined the Central Interior Logging Association in 1994 as one of its first female members in which she held a seat as the CILA Forestry & Legislation Director. Brenda’s service was instrumental in crafting laws governing the forest practices code, evergreen forest contracts and forest worker training programs. 

A chance meeting in a local diner led to a courtship with Terry Tataryn, whom she married in 1974. Brenda is survived by her husband, Terry; their son, Travis, his wife Melissa; and their daughter Katy; grandson’s Cole, Ashton, Max, Fynn, Tristan, and Marlon; her sister, Denise and her husband Chris; and her brother, Linden; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Mandy Thideman, and her brother, Eldon.

Brenda’s love of the outdoors and gardening was inspired from her mother, often spending warm sunny days outside, tending her beautiful flower gardens. She was an avid animal lover, who often rescued sick or injured animals, nursing them back to health.  Brenda enjoyed guitar riffs, rock music, great food, and snuggling up with a good book when time allowed. With kindness, grace and integrity Brenda would assist family and friends alike and her reasoned councel will be missed.