Taja E. Hughes, 86, of Newport Beach, California, died February 16, 2025, with her daughters by her side. Taja was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by her devoted daughters Cindy Hughes (Paul Schmidhauser) and Stacy Hughes Hutcheson (Gary), granddaughters Hayley Hutcheson and Caroline and Madeleine Schmidhauser, and other family members and friends. She was predeceased by her husband David and her siblings, Pamela and Gaylord.
After graduating from Newport Harbor High School in 1955, Taja attended University of Southern California for one year before marrying David Hughes. Taja later finished her college degree while caring for her two small children. After graduation, she was an award-winning teacher for 38 years, teaching and serving elementary school students in the Newport-Mesa School District.
She was hand-chosen to be a faculty member of Andersen School when it opened in 1973 and taught there until she retired.
Taja doted on her three granddaughters and two daughters.
She loved to help her family in any way. She read to her granddaughters and did crafts and other activities with them. She was kind, caring, and always in good spirits. She also was a caregiver for David and other family members before their passings.
Taja was a consummate hostess. She hosted every holiday gathering for extended family for many years, with a beautifully set table and abundant delicious food. Taja also loved to read (especially mysteries), play the piano and ukulele, listen to music, and play board and card games. As always, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Taja had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. She was much loved and will be greatly missed. As Taja requested, her ashes will be scattered near Corona del Mar State Beach, joining her husband, David.