Helen Ann Tanger

GARDINER – Helen Ann Tanger, born on Feb. 5, 1954, in Bath, was a beacon of strength and resilience, a woman of substance whose life was a testament to the adage that “life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Helen, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on July 3, 2023. She resided in West Gardiner, a place she called home and filled with the love and warmth of her presence. Helen was a retired laborer from the shoe manufacturing industry, a testament to her hardworking and dedicated nature. She was a woman who embraced life’s simple joys, passionately adoring lighthouses and hummingbirds, these symbols of light and freedom reflecting the vibrancy of her spirit.

Helen’s life was a tapestry woven with the threads of love and care she extended to her family.

She leaves behind her daughter, Tracy Stockford and her husband Bert, her son, Jamie Rattleff; her brother, Moris Tanger and his wife Michelle, brother, Leo Tanger Jr.; her granddaughter, Brianna Ashton and her husband Alan, grandson, Dylan Harris; and great-granddaughter, Celena Davis. Also mourning her loss is her beloved cat, Momma Kitty.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Dora Tanger.

Helen’s life was not defined by the storms she weathered, but by the lighthouses of love she built along the way – the family and friends whose lives were enriched by her presence. Her legacy lives on in the hearts and lives of those she loved.

In celebration of Helen’s life, we invite you to share your memories, stories, and photographs on her memorial page. Each shared memory is a lighthouse in the storm, a reminder of Helen’s indomitable spirit and the love that she shared with all who knew her.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, ME 04345 where memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com