Faith Hirdler-Padden

Faith Ann Hirdler-Padden, age 73 of Minneapolis passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at her residence. She was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, on May 21, 1952, the daughter of Vernon and Monica (Williams) Hirdler. Faith spent many long periods of her childhood at Gillette Children's Hospital, recovering from surgery. Given Faith's gregarious nature, many lifelong friendships began here. Faith distinguished herself by being chosen as the Winter Festival Queen one year and for receiving citations for racing in the hallways with the other kids in wheelchairs. A former teacher, at a Michael Dowling School reunion, remembered Faith as being "impish". Most summers were spent at the family cabin on Lake Roosevelt, with many aunts, uncles & cousins spending the summer at the adjoining property. Here Faith developed her love of the sun, swimming (she swam the width of the lake on two separate occasions) & fishing. Also partying with some of those cousins as adults. As a teen, Faith got her driver license and started working, continuing to work past retirement age. The bulk of her career was the 20+ years at Western National Insurance, where she met John, causing him to break his "I Will Not Date A Coworker" rule. Faith was an active person, competing in wheelchair basketball for the Rolling Gophers, and archery. She got to travel a lot with the basketball team, as well as for wheelchair square dancing. Faith was active at the Courage Center, with Capable Partners (fishing & hunting), and the Lake Harriet Yacht Club Adaptive Sailing Program, where she was awarded the most improved novice trophy. And let's not forget BINGO! Faith also had a creative side, enjoying painting, rosemaling, diamond art, and music. With a beautiful singing voice, she played guitar and sang in church for the guitar mass and the choir (where she was often a soloist), her teacher's studio's voice recitals, and as a soloist for weddings. In recent years Faith struggled with Restrictive Lung Disease, a complication of OI, requiring the use of supplemental oxygen. Of course, this did not keep her from her Monday night BINGO sessions. All-in-all, Faith was a beautiful, talented, smart, curious, seeking, deep-thinking, strong, tough, passionate, compassionate, funny, kind, loving, and generous woman. An Old Soul who will be sorely missed. She is survived by her husband and partner of 33 years, John Hirdler-Padden; siblings, Michael (Debra) Hirdler, Melanie Karoff, Vickey Holmes, Vincent Hirdler, Mary Lind, Karen (Dick) Arnold, Ann (Randy) Shay; and many other family and friends. Faith was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Kevin and Joel Hirdler; brothers-in-law, Eric Lind, Chet Holmes, and Alan Karoff; and sister-in-law, Lori Hirdler. She was a member of Capable Partners and the LHYC adaptive sailing program. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am, on Friday, January 23, 2026 at the Church of St. Michael, 611 S. Third St., Stillwater, MN 55082 with visitation one hour prior to the Mass in the church atrium.