Tamara Sahaydak

​Tamara (Belokonny) Sahaydak, age 80, left this earth and entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 2, 2021. Tamara’s life was an incredible journey demonstrating the Lord’s faithfulness at every turn. She was born on February 3, 1941 in Stalin’s Soviet Russia, taken by Axis soldiers into Hitler’s Germany at age three, and sponsored into the United States by Louisiana plantation owner, Mr. Calloway, at age eight. One year later, her family moved to Saginaw, Michigan. Through the family’s Russian Christian community, Tamara met the dashing, Daniel Sahaydak. They fell in love, were married on October 15, 1960, and were devoted to each other for over 60 years. Their life together was one of much joy and hard work. Tamara poured herself into the work of the farm they owned and the raising of their family, as well as a devoted involvement in her church community. Tamara’s love of flowers shone in the extensive floral gardens beautifying their farm property, as well as in her later employment at Keits Flower Shop during her retirement years. Singing and playing piano were talents she loved and fostered from a young age. She found many ways and various settings to use those as an encouragement to others and a way to honor her Lord. Tamara lived her life ever ready to testify of God’s graciousness to her and her family. She shared in word and song in church groups, at class reunions, in her grandchildren’s school, and with local hotel clerks-she would tell anyone who would pause and listen to the story of the Lord’s faithfulness in her life. She held a deep and abiding love for her Savior and never tired of sharing that with others. Tamara is survived by her children Rachel (Jim) Connelly, Brenda (Keith) Berends, Martin (Tonja) Sahaydak; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; siblings, Peter (Charlotte) Belokonny, Anna (Chuck) Vert, Lily (Michael) Griffin, Mark (Sarah) Belokonny, David (Linda) Belokonny; sister-in-law, Jenifer Belokonny. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel, and her brother, Paul Belokonny. A Memorial Service celebrating Tamara’s life will be held at a later date. Burial Georgetown Township Cemetery.