Laurier mourns the passing of student Danijela Tanaskovic

Aug. 17, 2021

It is with deep sorrow that Wilfrid Laurier University mourns the loss of student Danijela Tanaskovic, who died on Aug. 8, 2021 at age 61 after a year-long battle with cancer. Danijela was a second-year, mature student in the International Education Studies program within the Faculty of Arts.

Danijela’s family will remember her as a strong-willed individual who never lost her motivation. Not many people would choose to return to school while recovering from surgery and going through chemotherapy and radiation. She volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross and her goal after graduating from Laurier was to do more to help bring education to people living in refugee camps in Lebanon. The people who knew Danijela say she was inspiring and a great friend to many.

Laurier’s Dean of Students for the Waterloo campus has been in contact with Danijela’s family to offer support and condolences.

The loss of a student has a significant impact on the entire Laurier community. Support is being coordinated for students and others impacted by the loss of Danijela. Additional assistance can be accessed from the following resources:

• The Student Wellness Centre: 519.884.0710 x3146 or wellness@wlu.ca
• Here 24/7: 1.844.437.3247
• Laurier Human Resources at hr@wlu.ca