Minda Maldonado Garcia

Minda Maldonado Garcia

Age 61 of Minneapolis, MN, passed away unexpectedly on November 12, 2025.

Minda was born on December 16, 1963, in Norman, Oklahoma, to Jose Davila and Herminda Maldonado Garcia. The story is that, on their way from Minnesota to Texas, Minda was born in a truck, and that the first thing she saw was a dog. Minda has said that this explains her love for dogs. She was the oldest of five children, all girls.

Minda graduated from St. Paul’s Humboldt High School in 1982. She went on to earn a BS in Business from the University of Minnesota, a Certificate in Effective Communications & Human Relations from Dale Carnegie, and an MA in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine’s University.

Minda had a career in leadership roles in health care organizations. Her early work included organizations such as Aspen Medical Group, West Side Community Health Services, and University Affiliated Family Physicians. She started at Allina Health in 2001 and continued there until her passing. Her positions at Allina included performance improvement lead, manager, director, and in November 2022, she was named Vice President of Allina’s Customer Experience Center. Minda also served as the Executive Sponsor of the Pride ERG (Employee Resource Group) and as the chair of the BIPOC ERG. She was a panel member for the EmpowerHer panel discussion during Women’s History Month, served as an active member of the former CEO Advisory Council on DEI, and facilitated numerous Courageous Conversations and Equity & Belonging 20-day Journey Friday reflections. She led countless initiatives within Allina Health and served in community service through volunteer work outside Allina. She was described as a deeply loved leader, a tireless and passionate advocate for patients at Allina, and as a fiercely loving and supportive team member. Her team describes her as encouraging, empowering, and inspiring in every possible way, as quietly brilliant, and as someone who left an impact on everyone she knew. Minda benefited from role models who mentored her and, in turn, was active and passionate about mentoring others, helping them to learn how much they were capable of. She received many accolades and awards during her professional career. Most recently, she was recognized as one of the Notable Hispanic Leaders by Twin Cities Business Magazine in 2024, and she received the 2021 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Forum Award. Minda will be deeply missed as a leader at Allina Health.

In 2018, Minda married Maggie McEvoy in Rincón, Puerto Rico. They decided to marry in Puerto Rico so the cost of their wedding could aid Puerto Rico’s economy after Hurricane Maria. They took supplies, clothing, and toys with them to donate to an orphanage in Aguadilla and to the still devastated Utuado in the mountains of Puerto Rico. Minda moved from the West Side of St. Paul to live in Minneapolis with Maggie and the two dogs, Eddie and Bobbi, and the comings and goings of her new adult step-kids, Dustin and Jaye.

Minda enjoyed “playing in the dirt” (aka gardening), going on walks, biking, and foremost, hanging out & playing with her dogs. Minda & Maggie loved to go to Minnesota Lynx games as often as they could. Minda loved to travel and had a long bucket list of places she wanted to visit. She, of course, loved Zumba, where she met her wife Maggie. Karaoke was a favorite activity, especially with her “kiddos” from her work team. Minda loved to sit with Maggie and the dogs on the deck, admire the backyard waterfall and pond, and the wide variety of plants and birds. She called it her sanctuary.

Minda had a fierce dedication to family. Minda called her mother first, then Maggie, every day without fail. When asked who inspires her, she said, “My parents are at the core of my being. They were migrant farm workers with minimal education. Together, they left South Texas and moved to Minnesota, where they knew no one. They learned English, found jobs, lived their idea of the American dream, and raised five very independent women, all of whom work in industries serving others. I am proud of my sisters – all are amazing mothers who have raised awesome kids."

Minda loved her nieces and nephews to pieces. She was like a second mother to her sister Lupe’s five children. She drove them to school in the morning, always stopped by their house on her way to walk her dog(s), and went out to get them ice cream when they wanted it. She attended every celebration. She was a very special Minda (she hated being called Aunt).

She was proud of her little family with Maggie and their dogs. She was so happy and proud to introduce them to people. She loved grilling for gatherings at home and with Maggie’s family. She was known for the delicious drinks she concocted, like watermelon mojitos and coquito. She was much loved for that!

Minda was kind yet strong. Laid back yet powerful. She was known for her beautiful, bright smile that welcomed people. People knew she would listen. She let people know she loved them and cared about them. She was passionate about doing anything she could for others, whether it was donating or helping out. She was always the first to pick up the tab for the whole table, the first to volunteer to help, and the one who was always willing to say yes to take on more work. Minda was a kind, loyal friend. She was unapologetically herself, a humble, beautiful soul with a heart of gold. Friends saw her as compassionate, a “living angel.”

Minda did have some funny quirks. She was overly optimistic about how long it took to get somewhere, yet hated to be late. For some reason, she believed it was her “job” to test limits with teasing, especially using something akin to endless debate that she never backed down from. She tended to finish your sentences because she was whip smart and her brain worked faster than yours. Minda had a passion for music of all varieties and was known to insert lyrics into almost every conversation. Mention a word in a conversation, and off she went, singing a song that contained that word. She often answered in song lyrics or just launched into spoken lyrics in conversation, so you always found yourself wondering whether it was her words or lyrics. She took after her dad in her love for making up silly songs. She made up lyrics to familiar melodies for her dogs every single night. These quirks all added to who Minda was and made her even more lovable.

Minda was preceded in death by her father, Jose Davila Garcia, and her sister, Lupe Garcia. She is survived by her spouse Maggie McEvoy; Step-children Dustin and Jaye McEvoy; Mother Herminda Garcia; siblings Gloria (Jason) Wehlage, Jeanett Garcia, and Yadira (Dan) Langton, Carolyn Borow (Brad Moore); nieces/nephews Jose (Iesha), Sabrina, Daniella, Akoni (Liam), Sarita (Nick), Marianna, Mya, Gabi, Natalia, Xavier, Andre, A.J., Noelle, Alex, Jad, Eli and Adoni; GreatNieces/Nephews; Melodie, Aubriana, Maya, Alejandra, Rafael, Jibril. Many aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends.

Public visitation will be held on Monday, December 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

At 6:15 PM, there will be a Mariachi Serenade, and at 6:30 PM, the rosary will be prayed

Bradshaw Funeral Home, 3131 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Funeral Service for Minda will be held on Tuesday, December 2, at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 10:00 am and Lunch following the service.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

401 Concord Street, St. Paul, MN 55107

In place of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Minda's name to CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio)

797 East 7th St, St. Paul, MN 55106

Donate Here