Tara Engstrom

Tara Elizabeth Engstrom passed away peacefully in the company of her family on March 4, 2014 at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis, NC. Tara was born September 14, 1974 in Junction City, Kansas to Sandra Farlow Engstrom and the late Terry E. Engstrom. She attended Cabarrus County schools in Concord, NC and graduated with the Class of 1993 from Northwest Cabarrus High School. She received an Associate’s degree in Biomedical Photography from Randolph Community College. In 2000 Tara became a breast cancer survivor and fought a long and often a very difficult battle. She never faltered and with her ever positive attitude tended to be the one keeping everyone else’s spirits afloat. She never wanted for the cancer to identify her. As is evidenced in the outpouring of love from so many since her passing she impacted more lives than she could probably ever imagine. She had a real zest for life, a beautiful smile, a quick wit and an even more infectious laugh. She had a loving heart; she was a beautiful person inside and out. She nurtured each and every one of her many friendships and her only criteria for being her friend was to “be a good friend”. Her family was her security and she was proud of who she was and where she came from. Tara was preceded in death by her father, Terry Engstrom, in July of 2009, her grandparents, Dale and Viola Farlow, Kathryn and Leonard Engstrom, her Aunts, Susie McKenzie Brant and Pippy Engstrom, Uncle, Doug Engstrom, and her cousin, Bryan McKenzie. She is survived by her Mother, Sandra Farlow Engstrom, brother, Eric Gus Engstrom, niece, Cameron Engstrom, her aunts and uncles, her many cherished cousins and especially her much loved little dog, Margot Helen Tenenbaum, who she had recently entrusted to the care of her longtime and very special friend, Brandy Sears. She will be sadly missed but all those who loved her rest assured in the fact that she is now reunited with her dad who she adored and all of her other family members. Arrangements have been made for a visitation followed by a rosary on Friday, March 14 at 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord 460 Branchview Dr. NE Concord, NC 28025. A funeral mass will be celebrated by Fr. James Geiger on Saturday March 15 at 11:00 am at: St James the Greater Catholic Church 139 Manor Ave SW Concord, NC 28025. Tara chose to be cremated and burial of her ashes will take place at a later date at a private family burial. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County 5003 Hospice Lane Kannapolis, NC 28081http://www.hpccc.org (online donations available), Focused on A Cure Irresistable Portraits 1418 South Main St Kannapolis, NC 28081 www.irresistableportraits.com (online donations available) or St James the Greater Catholic Church Cemetery Fund 139 Manor Avenue SW Concord, NC 28025-5742. If you knew Tara, know now that she is free from pain and rests in peace. Keep her vibrant spirit alive. Hartsell Funeral Home is serving the Engstrom family.