Cynthia "Cindy" M. Mootz

Cynthia “Cindy” May Mootz passed away at home on April 12th, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. She had a short, but hard battle with pancreatic cancer.

Cindy was born on November 24, 1954, in Soestdijk, Netherlands, where her father was stationed while in the Air Force. They lived in Fort Worth, Texas before moving to Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

Cindy married Ronald Dennis Mootz in 1973 and moved to Fargo where they opened Professional Lawn Service and a few years later Green Garden Nursery. She was the accountant for a local PTA and taught Sunday School. Cindy graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Mathematics and Education. She did substitute teaching for ten years at all the area middle and high schools with emphasis in math, art and special education. One of her favorite things to do was to tell the students in a calculus class that she was an English teacher (someone would always ask). Cindy told them she looked the textbook over that morning, and it didn’t look too difficult. Cindy was very artistic and sold paintings at the West Acres Fine Arts Show. One year she won best of show at the North Dakota Student Art Show. While working at Pepsi, she volunteered for many local projects like Ronald McDonald house, Great Plains Food Bank and the Fargo Zoo with her grandkids.

Cindy had many different hobbies including Gardening. Gardening was her passion, and she was a Master Gardener. She sold plants for many years and was known as the “Plant Lady”. Cindy also loved to build things including two sofas, kitchen cupboards, headboard, picnic table, stone walls and stone garden beds and many craft items. Quilting was her winter activity, but the 9 grandkids and 1 great-grandchild were the biggest joy of her life.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frederick H Siirila; and grandparents, Abram and Hilma Siirila, William and Emma Schwartz.

She is survived by her mother, Betty J Siirila; husband, Ronald Mootz; sister, Debra (Dan) Tholke; brothers, James (Connie) Siirila and Alan (Cheryl) Siirila; son, Steven (Laura) Mootz, daughter, Jessica (Barney) Ochoa; grandchildren, Caitlyn, Lydia, Emma, Cynthia, Ethan, Aubrey, Evelyn, Lola and Everett; and great-grandson, Finn.