Tammer, Amanda Ellen Jane (nee Irwin)
October 23, 1967 - February 17, 2017

It is with deep, deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of my darling wife, Amanda. Pre-deceased by Ken, Ellen and Joseph Irwin and Tara Sherwood. Loving mother to Hope (Christopher Varadi) and Kyle (Sarah Aumell). Loving nana to Brooklyn, Scarlett and Everett. Loving wife to Ron. Loving step-mom to Nathan and Jackson. Loving daughter-in-law to Margit. Loving sister-in-law to Fred. Loving daughter to Faye Shea and Stewart Graham. Loving sister to Simone (David MacKenzie), James (Carol), Sam (Lynn), Joyce-Ann, and Sarah (Ric Brown). Loving half-sister to Heather and Amanda. Loving niece to Bridget Palmer. Loving auntie to Mike, Chris, Oliver, Leah, Trina, Micha, Rebecca (Matt Sheridan), Alexandra, Morgan and Kylie. She will also be missed by her second family at Cogeco Cable. Special thanks to all at Joseph Brant Hospital that tried valiantly to keep her bright light shining, including surgeons Dr. Rogers and Dr. Jancz, and ICU staff Dr. Robbins and nurses Ed, Taylor, Katie, Jessica and Elsie. Visitation will be held at P.X. Dermody Funeral Home, 1919 King St. E. (between Rosedale and Cochrane), Wednesday February 22, 2017 from 2 - 4 pm and 7 - 9 pm, with service at 8:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) Canada would be greatly appreciated. Finally, now that all of the above business has been attended to, I wanted to add a few thoughts about what a sweet, tender human being Amanda was, but as I started to jot down notes, I soon realized that no single newspaper is large enough to do her justice.  Instead, I will share Amanda's favourite poem, by Linda Ellis:
 
"I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.
 
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
 
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
 
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
 
So think about this long and hard;
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
 
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
 
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
 
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
 
So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?"
 
We are all so very proud of how you spent your dash, my love....

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