PORTLAND — Tyna Merdek, 96, of Portland, loving mother of Elaine Lasky and Alan Merdek, left on her final journey Dec. 1, to join her husband of 56 years, Joseph Merdek. She passed away at Cedars, where she had been a resident for the past 10 years.

She was born on Oct. 8, 1914, in Biddeford, the daughter of Stella and Myer Simensky. She graduated from Biddeford High School.

Tyna was the epitome of the perfect wife and mother. She also was devoted to her sister, Betty, her twin brothers, Jack and Larry and her brother, Arthur and their families.

She always held holiday dinners and loved baking and cooking for everyone. She had a sweet tooth and even in her last years at Cedars she loved her M&Ms and desserts.

When her grandchildren started arriving, her love and devotion extended to them. They all enjoyed visiting their grandma both in Portland and especially at the cottage at OOB. It was a special place for the entire family to gather with Tyna, where she had candy for everyone. In addition to her family, Tyna loved socializing with her girlfriends. She was an amazing bridge and Mah Jong player.

An extension of her love went beyond her family to the many staff at Cedars and Hospice of Southern Maine who cared for her and loved her in return.

She is survived by her daughter, Elaine and husband, Marc Lasky, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Poland Spring; her son, Alan and wife, Joyce Merdek, of Milford, Mass.; grandchildren, Scott Tetenman and his partner, Michael Kinara, of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Marc Tetenman and his wife, Sarah Brino, of Wilson, W. Va., Bonnie Robbins and her husband, Drew, of Mechanic Falls and Keith Merdek and his wife, Kerry, of Natick, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Jake Tetenman of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Betsy Tetenman of Wilson, Wyo., Tyler and Trevor Robbins of Mechanic Falls and Owen Merdek of Natick, Mass.; her twin brothers, Jack Simensky and his wife, Carolyn, of Biddeford and Larry Simensky and his wife, Faye, of Boynton Beach, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Barbara Simensky of Biddeford; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Tyna was predeceased by her husband, Joseph; sister, Betty; and brothers, Arthur and Harry.


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