Florence Hadley

FLORENCE M. HADLEY

Florence M. Hadley, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 25, 2020. With today’s world filled with dissension, judgement, division, and hostility, Florence stood out as one of the nicest people, and had the biggest heart of anyone you could ever meet.  Her ability to never hold a grudge, always forgive others (regardless of the offense), do for others before herself, and to be a friend to whoever she met, are just some of her many wonderful traits all of us could hope to carry through our lives.  You would rarely find her without a smile on her face or an unkind word being spoken.  She once stated over one of our lively family dinner conversations – “As a Christian, who am I to judge another person or tell them who they can or cannot love.”

Florence was born in January 1926 in Todd County, MN.  She grew up with 10 brothers and sisters on a dairy farm, near Staples, MN.  After high school, she moved to Detroit, MI where she met her husband Jim while attending a church Sunday school party.  They had their first date on New Year’s Eve, and were married less than a year later in a union that would last almost 55 years, until Jim’s death in 2005.

Within several years of their marriage, Jim was transferred from Detroit to Kansas City.  Shortly after settling in Prairie Village, Jim and Florence adopted their first child, Carol, and then several years after, they adopted their second child, David.

Florence spent most of her early married years as a homemaker, mother, and volunteer for numerous organizations.  Whether it was baking cakes for Spofford Home and Della Lamb, preparing food for church functions, or making calls and sending cards on behalf of many charities, Florence rarely said no.  This tendency sometimes filled her plate too full, but regardless, she always seemed to get everything done.  Florence also took time to be actively involved in her children’s lives.  She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Brownie leader, and chauffeur for her children (and their friends) to the many functions, sports, and activities they were involved in.

Florence was very active in Broadway United Methodist Church, which she became a member of in the early 1950’s.  She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and worked in the church nursery.  She was involved in the United Methodist Women’s organization, the Circle groups, Couples Club, Keystone class, and just about any other church function needing a helping hand.  She regularly attended Broadway for over 60 years.

Throughout her life Florence went on many adventures with Jim and the family.  They traveled to Italy several times to visit their daughter Carol.  There were many driving vacations and camping trips throughout the years with David and Carol, some lasting as long as 3 weeks, making memories that have stayed with all of them.

In 2001, with Parkinson’s disease taking a stronger grip on Jim, they made the decision to give up their home of 36 years in Prairie Village.  They chose to move to a villa on the new Overland Park campus of Village Shalom where Jim’s increasing healthcare needs could be met, and Florence’s future needs could be taken care of too.  They quickly acclimated to their new neighborhood, making fast friends with many of the residents in the tight knit community.  After Jim’s passing in 2005, Florence was able to stay in their villa for another 8 years until fall of 2013, when the early effects of Alzheimer’s and increasing difficulties in mobility necessitated a move to an assisted living apartment.  Again, she quickly made friends with the other residents.  She was able to remain in her apartment until the advancing impacts of Alzheimer’s required a higher level of assistance.  Florence then moved into one of Village Shalom’s memory care units in late 2016, and remained there until her passing.

Leading up to end, Alzheimer’s had robbed her of many of her memories; of the people she cared about and those who cared about her, the places she’d been, and the things she had accomplished.  However, Alzheimer’s couldn’t and didn’t take away, her smile and her ability to love all those around her.  Florence will be long remembered by all whose lives she touched in her 94 years.  She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, and by her 10 brothers and sisters.  Survivors include her son, David Hadley (and wife Julie); daughter Carol Hadley (and husband Alfredo Minopoli); grandson Christopher Hadley; granddaughter Allison Hadley; grandson Dario Minopoli; grandson Luca Minopoli; great grandchildren - James Hadley, Anastasia Hadley, Evgenia Hadley, Nicla Minopoli; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staffs at Village Shalom Assisted Living and Suite 1, and Kansas City Hospice.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://alz.org/), the Village Shalom Financial Assistance Program (https://www.villageshalom.org/), or Kansas City Hospice (https://www.kchospice.org/)