Obituaries
Please submit in writing to our office by 10 a.m. Thursday before the week of publication; be sure to state date of death. Obituaries of archdiocesan priests serving our archdiocese are listed elsewhere in The Criterion. Order priests and religious sisters and brothers are included here, unless they are natives of the archdiocese or have other connections to it; those are separate obituaries on this page.
Submit an obituary here (parishes and funeral homes only)
ACKMANN, Stephen, 58, St. Roch, Indianapolis, June 10. Husband of Mariannne Ackmann. Father of Elizabeth Elias, Allison and John Ackmann. Brother of Sue Nuhfer. Grandfather of one.
ALMAGIER, Isaias Rodriguez, Sr., 77, St. Ann, Indianapolis, June 7. Husband of Maria Jimenez Rodriguez. Father of Mary Egan, Isabel Hawkins, Cathy King, Lisa Okey, Elsa, Patty, Andy, Isaias Jr., Rolando and Ronnie Rodriguez. Brother of Elida Jones, Maria Ramirez, Moises, Santana and Tomas Almagier. Grandfather of 32. Great-grandfather of 14.
BANSCHBACH, Joseph P., 79, St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, June 10. Husband of Norma Banschbach. Brother of Mary Mitchell, Rita Leone, John and William Banschbach.
BOLIN, Geraldine (Lee) Jackey, 71, St. Michael, Bradford, May 28. Wife of J.B. Bolin. Mother of Debra Kirchgessner, Kathy, Jeffrey, Richard, Steven and Timothy Jackey, Bill and Mike Bolin. Sister of Sandee Clark, Joanie Hilbert, Bob, George and Mike Lee. Grandmother of 19. Great-grandmother of 19.
BROOKS, Raymond J., Sr., 86, St. Jude, Indianapolis, May 28. Father of Vivian Kiel and Raymond Brooks Jr. Brother of Betty Jean Montgomery Swift. Grandfather of eight. Great-grandfather of 11.
BUENING, Bradley D., 41, St. Mary, Greensburg, June 11. Father of Jessica, Megan, Anthony, Jacob and Luke Buening. Son of Philip and Roseaaron Buening. Brother of Karla Brown, Lori Biltz and Londa Wine.
CORA, George J., 96, St. Ann, Indianapolis, May 29. Father of Donald and William Cora and Glenn Skaggs. Grandfather of four.
CURTIS, Judith Ann (Elrod), 68, St. Jude, Indianapolis, June 14. Wife of David Curtis. Mother of Debbie Applegate, Bonnie LaRosa, Jeff, Michael and Philip Curtis. Sister of Sue Cummings, Mary Thomas, Gilbert and John Elrod. Grandmother of 16.
DEWEY, Adam Joseph Scott, 18 months, St. Michael, Bradford, May 27. Son of Richard and Crystal Dewey. Brother of Latoya and Zoey Dewey. Grandson of Debbie Adams, Larry Buechler, Jack and Rose Dewey.
DOOLEY, Paul A., 89, SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis, June 4. Husband of Mary Dooley. Brother of Alice Dooley.
HUDOCK, Mary Alice, 81, St. Rose of Lima, Franklin, June 13. Wife of Edward Hudock. Mother of Paula Gallagher, Jan Gray, Karen Haley, Barbara Smith, Mary Gail and John Hudock. Grandmother of nine. Great-grandmother of four.
FLINT, Viola M., 69, St. Bartholomew, Columbus, June 8. Wife of Robert Flint. Mother of Amber Stevenson, James, Michael and Robert Flint. Sister of Betty Hallgarth, Ida Jones, Delores Rolf, Sharon Shockey, Charles, Donald and Edward Schmidt. Grandmother of nine. Great-grandmother of one.
KISSEL, Laurence, 68, St. Joseph, Corydon, May 11. Husband of Barbara (Muir) Kissel. Father of Rebecca King, Andrew and Jimmy Kissel. Brother of Devon and Jim Kissel. Grandfather of 12. Great-grandfather of one.
KOESTERS, Carl, 76, St. Jude, Indianapolis, June 12. Father of Kim Miller, Kevin and Mike Koesters. Brother of Dorothy Marr. Grandfather of five. Great-grandfather of 10.
LARK, Mildred M., 94, Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Indianapolis, June 8. Mother of Susan Cook and James Boehm. Stepmother of Margaret Smaltz, Jane, Richard and Thomas Pitt. Grandmother of several. Great-grandmother of several.
MAUER, Joseph J., 94, St. Mary, Greensburg, June 12. Father of Hilda Grote, Pauline Muckerheide, Mildred, Don and Kenneth Mauer. Grandfather of three. Great-grandfather of four.
PARA, Mildred M., 83, St. Anthony, Indianapolis, June 2. Mother of Joseph Para Jr.
PARKER, Betty Lou, 78, St. Ann, Indianapolis, June 6. Mother of Misty Niederer, Theresa Weaver, Greg, James, Paul and Ralph Parker. Sister of Patricia Brown, Marietta Bustle, Linda Cravens, Sharon Hanley, Catherine Jones, Bernard, David, James and Steve Downs.
POINSETTE, Donald E., 95, St. Pius X, Indianapolis, June 8. Father of Sharon Smith, Irene Snyder, Mary Anne Stohler, Cynthia West, Donald, Eugene, Leo and Philip Poinsette. Brother of Phyllis Wyler and Richard Poinsette. Grandfather of 22. Great-grandfather of 21.
RONGO, Josephine, 84, St. Malachy, Brownsburg, May 26. Mother of Marylou Huslak, Robert and Victor Rongo. Grandmother of 11. Great-grandmother of three.
SABELHAUS, Margaret B., 83, St. Paul, Tell City, June 4. Mother of Michael and Warren Sabelhaus. Sister of Raymond Howell. Grandmother of five. Great-grandmother of three.
SABUDA, Rosemary G. (Rachuba), 80, Most Holy Name of Jesus, Beech Grove, May 1. Mother of Beth Alberson, Cathy Barnett, Diane, James and Jerry Sabuda. Grandmother of 11. Great-grandmother of seven.
SHARP, Lloyd F., 75, St. Joseph, Corydon, May 24. Husband of Clara (Guertin) Sharp. Father of Kathy Howell, Nancy Timberlake, Lauri and Linda Engleman. Brother of Joanne Duley. Grandfather of nine. Great-grandfather of eight.
SHICK, Suzanne, 81, St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington, May 31. Wife of William Shick. Mother of Anne Rogers, Ray and Tony Shick. Sister of Catherine Haffey and Patricia Vrba.
SMITH, C.J., 73, Most Holy Name of Jesus, Beech Grove, June 12. Husband of Ann Smith. Father of Patricia Cantrell, Cathy Gray, Hon. Debra Jenkins, Michael and Steven Morgan. Grandfather of 13. Great-grandfather of three.
SOLIVEN, Robert D., 60, St. Michael the Archangel, Indianapolis, June 3. Husband of Josephine Soliven. Father of Rose Concepcion and Robert Soliven. Brother of Lulu Alcos, Jean Gonzales, Leo, Levy and Lewellyn Soliven.
SPALDING, Barbara, 75, St. Michael, Bradford, May 26. Mother of Karen Bolen, Sarah O’Connor, Linda Pavey, Pattie Sieg, Donnie and Jeff Spalding. Grandmother of 13. Great-grandmother of five.
STRATTMAN, Robert A., 93, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, June 1. Husband of Joan (Hayes) Strattman. Father of Molly Hershberger, Ann Mathew, Daniel, James, Thomas and William Strattman. Grandfather of 12.
THOMPSON, Annette, 56, St. Michael, Bradford, May 29. Wife of Jerry Thompson. Mother of Trevor Thompson. Sister of Cynthia Gates and LaVerne Collins.
WALTERS, Ruth, 68, St. Mary, Richmond, May 31. Mother of Eric Walters. Sister of Barbara Smith and Fred Walters.
WHITE, Herbert Leo, 86, St. Christopher, Indianapolis, June 11. Father of Karen White-Dye, Jeanette and David White. Grandfather of seven. Great-grandfather of five.
WILSON, Mary Jane (Hughes), 83, St. Paul the Apostle, Greencastle, May 26. Mother of Michelle, Eric, Jerry and Reid Wilson. Sister of Ethel Patterson. Grandmother of one. Great-grandmother of three.
WOLFE, Roma E., 83, Holy Family, New Albany, June 13. Wife of Leo Wolfe. Mother of Daniel, David and Stephen Wolfe. Sister of Frances Sasse, Joan Schickel, John, Jude, Raymond and Stephen Uhl. Grandmother of five.
Mary Roberta Welch was the mother of Father Michael Welch
Mary Roberta Welch, a charter member of Holy Family Parish in New Albany and the mother of Father Michael Welch, died on June 9 at the Westminster Health Care Center in Clarksville. She was 93.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 12 at Holy Family Church in New Albany. Burial followed at Holy Family Cemetery in New Albany.
She was born on Sept. 19, 1916, in New Albany, and dedicated her life to her family. She also was a caregiver for her late mother, Clara Biscopink, who died at age 90.
For several years beginning in 1954 when the parish was founded, she volunteered her time and talent with the Marian Guild, a ladies’ organization, and made the clerical garments worn by altar servers during liturgies.
Survivors include a daughter, Colleen Freeman of New Albany; three sons, Patrick Welch of Washington, D.C., Vincent Welch of Omaha, Neb., and Father Michael Welch, the pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Holy Family Parish, 129 W. Daisy Lane, New Albany, IN 47150.
Providence Sister Rita Ann Roethele was an artist, educator
Providence Sister Rita Ann Roethele died on June 12 at Mother Theodore Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 83.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 19 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.
Rita Ann Roethele was born on Sept. 25, 1926, in Fort Wayne, Ind.
She entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence on July 21, 1946, and professed first vows on Jan. 23, 1949, and final vows on Jan. 23, 1954.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and two master’s degrees in art at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind.
During 63 years as a Sister of Providence, Sister Rita Ann ministered in education for 28 years at Catholic schools in Indiana and Washington, D.C.
At the former St. James the Greater School in Indianapolis, Sister Rita Ann taught art classes for five years and served as the principal for six years.
While ministering at St. James School from 1954-65, she was a leader in promoting art instruction at Catholic grade schools in Indianapolis.
Sister Rita Ann also taught art classes at the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1967-69.
She also taught art courses as a faculty member of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College at the motherhouse from 1970-74 and 1979-83.
Sister Rita Ann ministered as an artist for the congregation from 1974-79, 1983-89 and 1991-2004.
When she left teaching to pursue art full time, she established an art studio on the motherhouse campus, which is now known as Roethele Studio.
Sister Rita Ann was proficient in many types of media, and much of her artwork is displayed at the motherhouse.
In 1988-89, Sister Rita Ann served as the director of religious education at St. Mary-of-the-Woods Parish in St. Mary-of-the-Woods near the motherhouse.
From 1989-91, she ministered as the first director of the Providence Center at the motherhouse.
In 2004, she began her prayer ministry full time with the senior sisters at the motherhouse.
Surviving are two sisters, Mae Agnes Collisson of Mount Airy, Md., and Barbara Grimmer of Fort Wayne, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence Road, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.
Providence Sister Alma Louise Mescher was a college professor
Providence Sister Alma Louise Mescher died on June 9 at Mother Theodore Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 95.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 17 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.
Marjorie Anne Mescher was born on Jan. 6, 1915, in Burlington, Iowa.
She entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Aug. 9, 1937, and professed first vows on Jan. 23, 1940, and final vows on Jan. 23, 1946.
Sister Alma Louise earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree in biology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
She also earned a master’s degree in biology at Marquette University in Milwaukee and a doctorate in biology at the University of Notre Dame.
Before completing her graduate studies, Sister Alma Louise taught at Catholic high schools in Indiana, Illinois and California.
In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. Patrick High School in Terre Haute in 1946 and the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1954-55.
Sister Alma Louise also served on the faculty of the biology department at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1962-81.
After retiring from full-time teaching at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, she ministered as a pastoral associate at parishes in California and Illinois for nine years.
During her retirement years, Sister Alma Louise continued teaching biology and gerontology classes part-time at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Her interest in art led her to paint and teach watercolor classes for the sisters at the motherhouse.
In 2003, Sister Alma Louise began volunteer service at the motherhouse as well as at Providence Health Care while continuing to teach watercolor courses for the sisters.
In 2009, she began her prayer ministry full-time with the senior sisters.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence Road, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.
Franciscan Sister Joannes Pardo was the director of food service
Franciscan Sister Joannes Pardo died on June 12 at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility for the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, in Oldenburg. She was 93.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 15 at the motherhouse chapel. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.
Mary Pardo was born on Nov. 30, 1916, in Richmond. She entered the Oldenburg Franciscan community on July 7, 1932, and professed final vows on July 2, 1938.
In the archdiocese, Sister Joannes ministered in domestic services at the convents at Marian College, now Marian University, in Indianapolis, St. Louis Parish in Batesville, St. Andrew Parish in Richmond and the motherhouse in Oldenburg.
She also served at convents in Vincennes, Ind., and in Ohio, Missouri and New Mexico.
In 1978, Sister Joannes was named the director of food service for the motherhouse, a position she held until 1985 when she entered semi-retirement and served her community in other ways. She retired in 2008.
Surviving are two sisters, Bridget Culbertson of Richmond and Frances Sowards of Tucson, Ariz., as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036. †