TaraAnn Quintana Del Rio's Obituary
On October 23rd, 2025, our precious Tara passed away surrounded by family at Ogden Regional Hospital after suffering a sudden stroke and aneurysm.
Tara was born on June 13th, 1989, to Sandye Hall and Jarrod Garcia in Ogden, Utah. As a little girl, she enjoyed time with her ‘Poppy’ and Grandma Rondia, while her mom worked. They went to coffee shops, took train rides, trips, and dug through treasures from Poppy’s work, which was referred to as “The other mall” (Weber Landfill). Growing up, she found herself in a lot of funny business playing pranks with Colten (also known as ‘Cokey’) on other kids in the apartments.
On August 19th,1995, Tara claimed her “Dad,” David Quintana, as her own with a unique and special ceremony in which the two of them shared vows to be the best daughter and the best dad to each other forever. After making the most memorable 7th birthday wish, she was blessed exactly nine months later with a little brother, Jaden, whom she insisted call her “Sissy,” even through adulthood. Her wishes from then on were considered dangerous within the family because they came true.
Young Tara was known to have the best imagination among all her cousins and friends. She created her own games for everyone to play, such as Judge-i-cul and CAT (which was late-night hide-and-seek throughout the neighborhood). Other times, when the parents were out, she and Jaden would design Hot Wheel tracks throughout the entire front room for cars to crash into a picture of their least favorite person at the time, just for fun. Tara enjoyed spending time with her best friend, Kiela. Their time together usually consisted of Tara showing Kiela classic movies, memorizing song lyrics, and playing Sims on the computer, building their dream lives.
Summer days were filled with endless family time, including swimming at the dam, vacations to 7 Peaks Water Park, and trips to Wyoming. In addition, Grandma Rondia would often “kidnap” Tara and Jaden for long out-of-state trips without permission from their parents. Tara also cherished many salon days with her mom and Aunt Shye as time well spent together.
In middle and high school, Tara and her cousin Adam (she called him “Doe Doe”) were inseparable, right down to taking the same exact classes and lunch. With her free spirit, she drove the many imaginative places they could escape to, which included pretending to drive (and perhaps a little mischief found in them actually driving) her parents’ car while camping. She played competitive co-ed soccer, gymnastics, and softball. Tara also played Annual Powder Puff Football for Ben Lomond High School, where she graduated in 2007.
She never took lightly her loyalty and devotion as a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She offered love that was fierce, unconditional, and meant everything to her. Tara was a beautiful soul: strong, compassionate, authentic, and full of life. She always took a genuine interest in those around her, putting forth her best efforts to bring people together.
Tara was truly one of a kind with a big, loud, and bold personality. Naturally drawing the attention of any room with her Gemini energy, it was impossible not to feel her presence. Often leading with a smart-aleck remark or joke and bursting out vocally in song, her laughter filled every room. She was influential in the standards she held and was very outspoken, but she never regretted speaking her mind, which others admired her for.
Many who knew Tara claim that their lives were enriched, as they felt seen and accepted through her unforgettable love. She spoke a special language to your heart that uplifted the heaviness of any struggle or sacrifice, giving you a light that broke up the darkness.
Tara was a familiar face to many as she worked as a lunch lady at Ogden High School. She also held positions at Save More Products, Fresenius, and Felts Automotive, and worked as a CNA at Beehive Homes before her most cherished time spent as a stay-at-home mom.
She met the love of her life and soul mate, Shane Del Rio, in mid-October 2007. They were two halves that made a whole and were totally in sync with one another. They enjoyed dancing at the Alano club, long drives, and communicating through music. The two shared what most would call a fairytale romance. It was highly important to make time with Shane, so each morning she woke up three hours early just to have her cup of coffee with him before he left for work. They married on August 4, 2018, in the beautiful mountains of Utah at coordinates 41°24'51"N 111°32'02"W, and share four amazing and beautiful children: Dallas, Deja, Neveah, and Noah.
Tara felt a great importance in teaching her children early independence, from picking their own clothes and making food to learning how to pack their own bag for a sleepover. She loved demonstrating the roles of their pack, with her as the Queen, the girls as her Princesses, Shane as the King, and her boys as the Princes. These examples displayed the morals of loyalty and respect that she instilled in them. She loved teasing Dallas about how fast he was growing up, blurting out comments like, “Look, there’s my little setsy man!” when he got a new haircut. She loved doing nails with Deja and trying different hairstyles just for fun. She and Neveah often spent mornings coloring and creating artsy projects with each other. Her enthusiasm was carried by Noah, who now carries on with a warning, “I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it!” before bursting out singing the Whitney Houston song “And I Will Always Love You” as loud as possible in public.
With an incredible zest for life, she loved nature with hiking, four-wheeling, and camping. She expressed her love for family and friends by baking creative and elaborate cakes. She loved traveling and experiencing new things with her husband, children, and family, including many private trips to the river, trips to Vegas, Auto-rama, and Jericho, boating at Pineview, family campouts, and annual summer cousins’ camping trips.
She took great interest in planning parties and dressing up, and she was very resourceful, magically crafting many things for others to enjoy, like Christmas parties, birthday pedicures, and brunch. Her favorite holiday was Halloween, which meant dressing up in couples or themed costumes. But before going out anywhere, she would say, “Let me get my lashes.” Tara was equipped with a green thumb and was very proud of her garden, often referring to herself as a “proud plant parent.”
Tara’s light will forever shine bright like a diamond, leaving behind a lifetime of loved ones and precious memories.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Sandye Hall Quintana; father, Jarrod Garcia; grandparents, Robert ‘Bompa’ & Karen Quintana, and Jim ‘Poppy’ Hall; uncle, Stephen Hall; Special aunt, Norma McMahon; and favorite aunt, Andrea ‘Shye’ Titensor.
Tara is survived by her loving husband Shane Del Rio and their children: Dallas, Deja, Nevaeh, and Noah. Parents: David & Michelle Quintana, Charlie & Bonnie Del Rio, and Jackie Garcia. Sibling: Jaden ‘Lil big brother’ Quintana; Other brother, Colten ‘Cokey’ Poore. Bonus siblings are Makell & Randy Magers, Ashley Clapp, Skylyn Uribe, Devin Elder, and Mariah Montijo. Brother and Sister in-laws: Casey Petersen, CB & Leeann Del Rio, and Gaven & Jennifer Del Rio. Grandmothers: Dottie Cloward and Rondia ‘GG’ Hall. Also surviving her is her cousin Adam ‘Doe Doe’ Hall, best friend Kiela ‘Marie’ Adams, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and an extensive number of close friends she considered family that she held near and dear to her heart.
In every life Tara touched, she gave light. To honor her fierce, unconditional love, the family asks that you channel the spirit of generosity and support into securing the future of her greatest legacy: her children, Dallas, Deja, Nevaeh, and Noah. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made directly to support her devoted husband, Shane, as he shoulders the immense responsibility of raising their four beloved children.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for family and friends to gather and share memories on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Peer Event Center (3885 US-89, Pleasant View, UT). Following the service, a dinner in her honor will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the same venue.
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