Obituary of Radojka Simpraga-Tessier

Rada (Radojka) Simpraga-Tessier, aged 66, in the company of her husband David, died peacefully early Sunday 07 July 2013 at Sunnyside Home in Waterloo ON, after living and coping for several years with frontotemporal dementia. Rada graduated high school in Knin and earned B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrochemical technology at the University of Belgrade. In 1991, after several years' research in Belgrade, she moved to Canada, working as an electrochemical researcher at the U. of Ottawa and the U. of Waterloo. Rada was a steady support to her family and a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephew. As a lively student and research group member, she got everyone hooked on high octane coffee, hosted social gatherings, and made many lifelong friends from all over the world. She loved travel, a lifelong passion she continued to pursue with David from their home in Canada, as long as she was able, travelling widely in Europe, North America, and visiting Australia, New Zealand and countries in Asia. Left unexplored, though not undreamt of, were new destinations in South America, Africa and Scandinavia. Rada accepted her cognitive losses with grace and good humour, with characteristic concern for their effects on her family. Good friends Mary, John, Joanne, Dina and Natalie all helped Rada transition into early retirement with daily walks, coffee time and friendship. Her family is especially indebted to Dina and Mary for their regular visits with her at Sunnyside Home in Kitchener. We are grateful to the staff at Sunnyside for their tender and loving care, and to the Sunnyside Foundation for thoughtful programs and specialized equipment. We can enrich the lives of those living with dementia in our communities by giving time and donations to organizations like the Sunnyside Foundation (www.erbgood.com). Rada is predeceased by her parents Jeka (Vejnovic) and Petar Simpraga, and is survived by husband David F. Tessier of Waterloo and his sons David of Melbourne and Joel of Edmonton, brother Srdje (Mira) Simpraga of Belgrade, sister Nena (Bora) Andrejevic of Novi Sad, nieces Jelena, Natasa and Ivana, nephew Milos, and many others in the Simpraga, Vejnovic and Tessier families. According to Rada's wishes, she will be cremated and no funeral service will be held.