Lauren Alexandra Tvardzik, age 33 of Stratford, CT passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 14th with her loving family by her side. Born in Bridgeport on August 24, 1990. She was the daughter of JoAnn Betts of Shelton, and Paul Tvardzik also of Shelton. She was the granddaughter of the late, Joseph and Helen Misinonile and Paul and Victoria Tvardzik.

Lauren was baptized at Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, where she attended services for a large part of her life.  In recent years she became a member of St. Dimitri Orthodox Church in Easton, where she was a member of the choir.

Lauren attended and graduated from Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield, where she played tennis, track and field and played in a softball league in Shelton. She graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield where she earned her bachelor's degree in history.  Lauren was also a graduate of Fairfield University having earned a master's degree in Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy. She found great joy in helping others, especially children. Lauren was an excellent student and achieved great grades with a Grade Point Average of 4.0.  She received her 'honor cords' and medallion for achieving high academic honors.

She loved her dog, Onyx and treasured her time spent with him more than anything.  She was in the process of training him to be a PTSD service dog. Lauren enjoyed being physically active and was health conscious.  She had many friends who she cherished spending time with, she was a very loving person and everyone who knew her loved her in return.  Lauren was very thoughtful and always wanted to give to others.

Survivors in addition to her parents, include her companion, T.J. Grigerik, aunt, Peachie (Helen) Cleary, uncle, Earl Sickinger and wife Karen, aunt, Jenny Lynn Misinonile, uncle, Bobby Sickinger and wife Henrietta, uncle, Michael Tvardzik and wife, Kathy, uncle, David Tvardzik and wife Debbie, aunt, Vicky Lampert, aunt, Paula Gregorio and husband Jim, aunt, Kyra Wood and husband John and seventeen cousins.

A Visitation for Lauren will take place on Sunday, January 21, 2024, from 2- 4 p.m. at Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church 285 Alden Avenue New Haven, with a Panakida (prayer service) at 3p.m. A Requiem Funeral Service will be celebrated on Monday, January 22nd at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Stratford. The Adzima Funeral Home- Stratford has been entrusted with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lauren's memory to: the American Heart Association (heart.org), Canine Companions (canine.org) or CT State Police K-9 unit (ct.gov).