February 14, 2020

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)

BACK, Victor P., 80, All Saints, Dearborn County, Jan. 25. Husband of Virginia Back. Father of Kristie Gabbard, Kaye Johnson, Karen Lozier and Kevin Back. Brother of Marlene Hoog, Charles, Jr., David, Harold and Paul Back. Grandfather of five. Great-grandfather of two.

BAGBY, Norma A., 91, St. Vincent de Paul, Bedford, Jan. 29. Stepmother of Barbara Bagby. Sister of Janice Hedrick and Irene Murray. Step-grandmother of two. Step-great-grandmother of four. Step-great-great-grandmother of one.

BEAVER, Mark A., 58, St. Vincent de Paul, Bedford, Jan. 31. Husband of Dana Beaver. Father of Griffin and Owen Beaver. Brother of Jane Crosby, Karen Jacobsen, Deborah and Mike Beaver.

BLACKMER, David L., 87, St. Luke the Evangelist, Indianapolis, Jan. 25. Husband of Ann Blackmer.

BLANKMAN, James J., 88, St. Mary, Greensburg, Feb. 2. Father of Linda Fry, Mary Harmeyer, Donald and Robert Blankman. Brother of Rita Mae Waechter. Grandfather of seven. Great-grandfather of three.

BRASSIE, Dorothy M., 80, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Jan. 24. Mother of Mary, Bill, David, Greg, Steve and Tom Brassie. Grandmother of three. Great-grandmother of four.

BURNETTE, William, 77, St. Paul, Tell City, Jan. 28. Husband of Eileen Burnette. Father of Ginger Goffinet, Molly Hood and Chris Burnette. Grandfather of five.

BURNS, Larry L., 79, St. Vincent de Paul, Bedford, Jan. 27. Husband of Patricia Burns. Father of Dietra Cole, Kimberly Hicks, Selena Hinsdale, James, and Samuel Guthrie and Richard Burns. Brother of Jerry Burns. Grandfather of 19. Great-grandfather of nine.

CHAFIN, Jan M. (Feigen), 73, Our Lady of the Greenwood, Greenwood, Feb. 1. Sister of Theresa Austin and John Feigen.

HAYES, William F., Sr., 92, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Jan. 10. Father of Linda Simmons and Bill Hayes, Jr. Brother of Rita Wesco, Larry, Ted and Terry Hayes. Grandfather of six. Great-grandfather of 12. Great-great-grandfather of two.

HEAZELTINE, Thomas R., 92, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Jan. 31. Husband of Martha Heazeltine. Father of Carol, Elaine, Greg and Paul Heazeltine. Grandfather of two. Great-grandfather of five.

HERBERTZ, JoAnn, 85, St. Barnabas, Indianapolis, Jan. 30. Wife of Albert Herbertz. Mother of Diane Carter, Mary Kay Hahn, Patty, Brian, David, Jerry, Mark and Rick Herbertz. Sister of Betty Kocher and Mary Daeger. Grandmother of 17. Great-grandmother of 12.

HOMBURG, Esther M. (Smith), 96, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, Jan. 24. Mother of Jane Holmes and Charles Homburg. Grandmother of three.

MEYER, Janet M., 76, St. Louis, Batesville, Jan. 31. Wife of Dennis Meyer. Mother of Tricia Kane, Barb, Bryan, Mark, Randal and Robert Meyer. Sister of Bob and Bill Barnhorst. Grandmother of eight.

ORSCHELL, Charlotte, 89, St. Michael, Brookville, Jan. 30. Mother of Marlene Flaspohler, Melanie, Andrew and Marty Orschell. Sister of Marilyn Schlabach. Grandmother of 11. Great-grandmother of 13.

OSBORNE, William E., 80, St. Michael the Archangel, Indianapolis, Jan. 14. Husband of Sharon Osborne. Father of Maryann and David Osborne. Grandfather of four.

PUGLIS, Anne, 90, St. Christopher, Indianapolis, Jan. 28. Mother of Annette Broderick, Sandy Elsner, Carol Gosser, Jane Westdyke and James Puglis. Grandmother of five. Great-grandmother of six.

SEGNER, Daniel D., 64, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, Jan. 26. Husband of Deborah Segner. Son of Mary Segner. Brother of Tonya Bennett and Tony Segner. Uncle of several.

STILES, Elese, 65, St. Vincent de Paul, Bedford, Jan. 31. Wife of Paul Stiles. Mother of Todd Stiles. Sister of Jackson Brewer. Grandmother of three.

TRAUB, Timothy D., 56, Christ the King, Indianapolis, Jan. 29. Brother of Martha Nelson, Joan Traub-Martin, Jerome, Patrick and Paul Traub. Uncle and great-uncle of several.

ZAPFE, Richard C., 77, Our Lady of the Greenwood, Greenwood, Jan. 7. Husband of Margaret Zapfe. Father of Megan, Bryan and Matt Zapfe. Brother of Robert Zapfe. (Correction)


Franciscan Sister Francis Assisi Kennedy served in Catholic education, wrote archdiocesan history book

Franciscan Sister Francis Assisi Kennedy died on Feb. 4 at the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg. She was 82.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 7 at the Motherhouse Chapel in Oldenburg. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.

Anna Marie Kennedy was born on Jan. 13, 1938, in Indianapolis. She grew up as a member of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Parish. She and her family later were members of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove.

Sister Francis Assisi joined the Sisters of St. Francis on Feb. 2, 1956, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1961. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Marian University in Indianapolis, a master’s degree in English at John Carroll University in Cleveland and a master’s degree in literature at the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College in Ripton, Vt.

During 64 years as a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Sister Francis Assisi ministered in Catholic education for 45 years in elementary schools, high schools and colleges.

In the archdiocese, Sister Francis Assisi served at St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg in 1957, and at the Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg from 1958-59 and 1995-2002. In Indianapolis, she ministered at Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School and St. Lawrence School from 1959-60, Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School from 1964-70, Marian University from 1970-75 and Martin University from 1982-95. She also served as archivist for the Oldenburg Franciscans from 1996-2010.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis recognized Sister Francis Assisi in 2002 with the Blessed Theodore Guérin Excellence in Education Award. In 2009, she authored Like a Mustard Seed Growing: The Archdiocese of Indianapolis, 1834-2009 on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Vincennes, Ind., which later became the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036-0100.


Providence Sister Miriam Clare Stoll served in Catholic education and pastoral ministry

Providence Sister Miriam Clare Stoll died on Jan. 30 at Mother Theodore Hall at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 95.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 4 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse. Burial was to follow at the sisters’ cemetery.

Margaret Mary Stoll was born on Dec. 7, 1924, in Clyde, Mo. She entered the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Aug. 12, 1944, and professed final vows on Jan. 23, 1952.

Sister Miriam Clare earned a bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

During her 75 years as a member of the Sisters of Providence, Sister Miriam Clare served for 24 years in Catholic schools in Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma. She later served in various pastoral ministries, including in parishes, hospitals, a homeless shelter and a home for unwed mothers.

In the archdiocese, Sister Miriam Clare served in Indianapolis at Holy Spirit School from 1954-62, St. Philip Neri School from 1966-71, and in ministry at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish from 1971-72 and St. Vincent Hospital from 1972-74. She also served the sick and homebound of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute from 1986-94. She then served in various ministries at the motherhouse before dedicating herself entirely to prayer in 2009.

Sister Miriam Clare is survived by sisters Martha Ann Gross of Irwin, Iowa, and Amelia Wiederholt of Stanberry, Mo., and by brothers Edward, Eugene and Gerald Stoll, all of Stanberry, Mo.

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.


Sister Genevieve Bordac served in Catholic schools for 50 years

Sister Genevieve Bordac, a member of the Seven Sorrows of Our Sorrowful Mother religious order and previously a member of the Oldenburg Franciscans, died on Jan. 2 at the Edenbrook Nursing Home in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. She was 98.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Jan. 10 at Our Lady of Victory Chapel in Necedah, Wis. Burial followed at Queen of the Holy Rosary Mediatrix of Peace Cemetery in Necedah.

Born on June 17, 1921, Sister Genevieve entered the Oldenburg Franciscans in 1938 and professed vows on June 11, 1941.

She joined the Seven Sorrows of Our Sorrowful Mother order in Necadah in 1979.

A Catholic school teacher for 50 years, Sister Genevieve taught near the end of her ministry at Queen of the Holy Rosary School in Necadah. †

Local site Links: