Mindy Jo (Natte) Hadjis
December 4, 1957 — February 19, 2023
Mindy Jo (Natte) Hadjis, 65, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family. Visitation: 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids with Trisagion Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Cedar Rapids. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Mindy was born December 4, 1957, in El Paso, Texas. She is the daughter of Roger and Joan (Flemmig) Natte. Mindy graduated from Ft. Dodge High School in 1976, and studied nursing at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Mindy earned her BSN at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. On March 15, 1986, Mindy was united in marriage to Alex Hadjis. In the beginning of her career, she worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, and taught Nursing at Iowa Central Community College. She retired as a Nurse Manager for the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Mindy was baptized in the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.
Survivors include her husband, Alex Hadjis; sons, Nick (Carly) Hadjis and John (Dani) Hadjis; grandchildren, Irelyn, Carter and Zoey Hadjis; sister, Tresia Natte; cousin, Mike (Lisa) Peterson; and her father, Roger (Joyce) Natte.
Mindy was preceded in death by her mother, Joan Natte.
Mindy, adored mother, wife, sister, and daughter will be greatly missed.
Mindy’s life began in Ft. Dodge, Iowa with her mother, Joan, and sister Tresia. Mindy was an older sister to Tresia and she lived up to the title. She loved Tresia and always felt a drive to protect her. Mindy learned many of her core values from her mother, Joan. How to gain an education, how to become independent, and how to carry on with strength and grace when life extends it’s hard lessons your way. Mindy also grew to love and appreciate the soft comfort in life through the eyes of a child, watching her mother as she dutifully washed and made the girls’ beds on a regular basis. Among the clean, soft sheets sat her beloved teddy bear, whom she carried out of childhood, into adolescence, motherhood and through her journey to the end, finding their final resting place together- as they were in the beginning.
For a few years it was just the three of them. The girls opened up their hearts when Joan met Roger. Mindy absolutely adored Roger. Roger nurtured Mindy’s ever constant thirst for knowledge. He taught her so much about gardening, history and art. He showed her what it meant to be a great man and loved her mother for 17 years until she passed away. Mindy and Tresia were adopted by Roger and they fully supported him as he married Joyce. Mindy thought so highly of Joyce, and her love and adoration blossomed for almost 35 years. Mindy loved to travel with the two. She also loved to send Nick and John on summer trips with Roger and absolutely devoured every hilarious detail that came from their expeditions.
Mindy and Alex’s love story began when she locked eyes with the young disco loving Greek. It was said that Mindy felt a magnetic pull towards Alex and they began their journey of love then and there. Together they lived in Cedar Rapids where they married and brought their two beautiful boys into the world. Alex and Mindy shared a love of art, great food and music and they always made sure to save a dance to Purple Rain together. Later in life, knowing the gravity of her diagnosis, they did as much traveling as they could and did their best to cross off Mindy’s list of adventures. Alex was there for Mindy when her mother passed before they married. He held her hand through the good and bad. He guided her through years of illness and was at her bedside the moment she passed on from this world.
Mindy loved the chaos and commotion that came with being a “boy mom”. The moments between working long hours at the hospital were spent watching the ever constant wrestling matches, cooking home cooked meals for the boys and putting out fires (literally and figuratively) in her home. She adored the times when the pandemonium would settle and her boys would snuggle up to her lap to ask for back rubs. She was a devoted mother who always advocated for her sons in times of need. She loved being needed by them, and made it known she would fervently defend their corners.
Mindy wanted to exist in the ever-growing loop of activities and experiences her grandchildren were involved in. She attended doctors appointments, practices, musicals and everything in between. She cared deeply about the emotional well-being and development of each grandchild, and she saw each of their unique potentials from day one. She never forgot to inquire about their day to day adventures and was genuinely excited to hear each debriefing, no matter how big or small. She guided her children through the many trials of early parenthood and never hesitated to answer a call of concern, whether it be day or night.
Perhaps knowing she was on borrowed time, Mindy did her best to soak up each moment she could with her grandchildren. Time with “Yia Yia” was a special gift that was often spent at campgrounds or walking countless miles around Prairie Park Fishery. Some of her slower moments were spent napping together with her grand babies under a soft ducky blanket.
Mindy had many titles in life, nurse being one of them. It was a profession that Mindy took great pride in. Being a caregiver in life came naturally to Mindy. She was selfless and dedicated to providing the best care and comfort to her many patients in life. A care that was extended to not just her patients, but also all her loved ones. Mindy’s cup in life was full when she helping others feel better.
While our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we find solace in knowing that our dear Min Min is now free of pain.
We love you Mindy. Until we meet again.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be used towards a fund for the Cancer Center at The University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.
Mindy was born December 4, 1957, in El Paso, Texas. She is the daughter of Roger and Joan (Flemmig) Natte. Mindy graduated from Ft. Dodge High School in 1976, and studied nursing at Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Mindy earned her BSN at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. On March 15, 1986, Mindy was united in marriage to Alex Hadjis. In the beginning of her career, she worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, and taught Nursing at Iowa Central Community College. She retired as a Nurse Manager for the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Mindy was baptized in the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.
Survivors include her husband, Alex Hadjis; sons, Nick (Carly) Hadjis and John (Dani) Hadjis; grandchildren, Irelyn, Carter and Zoey Hadjis; sister, Tresia Natte; cousin, Mike (Lisa) Peterson; and her father, Roger (Joyce) Natte.
Mindy was preceded in death by her mother, Joan Natte.
Mindy, adored mother, wife, sister, and daughter will be greatly missed.
Mindy’s life began in Ft. Dodge, Iowa with her mother, Joan, and sister Tresia. Mindy was an older sister to Tresia and she lived up to the title. She loved Tresia and always felt a drive to protect her. Mindy learned many of her core values from her mother, Joan. How to gain an education, how to become independent, and how to carry on with strength and grace when life extends it’s hard lessons your way. Mindy also grew to love and appreciate the soft comfort in life through the eyes of a child, watching her mother as she dutifully washed and made the girls’ beds on a regular basis. Among the clean, soft sheets sat her beloved teddy bear, whom she carried out of childhood, into adolescence, motherhood and through her journey to the end, finding their final resting place together- as they were in the beginning.
For a few years it was just the three of them. The girls opened up their hearts when Joan met Roger. Mindy absolutely adored Roger. Roger nurtured Mindy’s ever constant thirst for knowledge. He taught her so much about gardening, history and art. He showed her what it meant to be a great man and loved her mother for 17 years until she passed away. Mindy and Tresia were adopted by Roger and they fully supported him as he married Joyce. Mindy thought so highly of Joyce, and her love and adoration blossomed for almost 35 years. Mindy loved to travel with the two. She also loved to send Nick and John on summer trips with Roger and absolutely devoured every hilarious detail that came from their expeditions.
Mindy and Alex’s love story began when she locked eyes with the young disco loving Greek. It was said that Mindy felt a magnetic pull towards Alex and they began their journey of love then and there. Together they lived in Cedar Rapids where they married and brought their two beautiful boys into the world. Alex and Mindy shared a love of art, great food and music and they always made sure to save a dance to Purple Rain together. Later in life, knowing the gravity of her diagnosis, they did as much traveling as they could and did their best to cross off Mindy’s list of adventures. Alex was there for Mindy when her mother passed before they married. He held her hand through the good and bad. He guided her through years of illness and was at her bedside the moment she passed on from this world.
Mindy loved the chaos and commotion that came with being a “boy mom”. The moments between working long hours at the hospital were spent watching the ever constant wrestling matches, cooking home cooked meals for the boys and putting out fires (literally and figuratively) in her home. She adored the times when the pandemonium would settle and her boys would snuggle up to her lap to ask for back rubs. She was a devoted mother who always advocated for her sons in times of need. She loved being needed by them, and made it known she would fervently defend their corners.
Mindy wanted to exist in the ever-growing loop of activities and experiences her grandchildren were involved in. She attended doctors appointments, practices, musicals and everything in between. She cared deeply about the emotional well-being and development of each grandchild, and she saw each of their unique potentials from day one. She never forgot to inquire about their day to day adventures and was genuinely excited to hear each debriefing, no matter how big or small. She guided her children through the many trials of early parenthood and never hesitated to answer a call of concern, whether it be day or night.
Perhaps knowing she was on borrowed time, Mindy did her best to soak up each moment she could with her grandchildren. Time with “Yia Yia” was a special gift that was often spent at campgrounds or walking countless miles around Prairie Park Fishery. Some of her slower moments were spent napping together with her grand babies under a soft ducky blanket.
Mindy had many titles in life, nurse being one of them. It was a profession that Mindy took great pride in. Being a caregiver in life came naturally to Mindy. She was selfless and dedicated to providing the best care and comfort to her many patients in life. A care that was extended to not just her patients, but also all her loved ones. Mindy’s cup in life was full when she helping others feel better.
While our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we find solace in knowing that our dear Min Min is now free of pain.
We love you Mindy. Until we meet again.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be used towards a fund for the Cancer Center at The University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.
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