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)
ALLEN, Mary (Gaughn), 90, Good Shepherd, Indianapolis, Dec. 18. Mother of Linda Bamrick, Eileen, David and Robert Allen. Sister of Rose Johnson and Jane O’Malia. Grandmother of seven.
BIEHLE, Ralph, L., 90, St. Mary, North Vernon,
Dec. 19. Husband of Alberta Biehle. Father of Dorothy Bailey, Donna Gerringer, Marie, Ed, Marvin and Tom Biehle. Brother of Deloris Sorg. Grandfather of 14. Great-grandfather of 23.
CARR, Sr., Kevin M., 63, St. Rita, Indianapolis, Dec. 5. Husband of Sylvia Carr. Father of Jessica and Kevin Carr, Jr. Son of Phyllis Carr. Brother of Angela, Anthony and Edward Carr, Jr. Grandfather of two. Great-grandfather of one.
CHANDLER, Jeanne L. (Fowerbaugh), 55, SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis, Dec. 23. Wife of Robert Chandler. Mother of Katie, Colin and John Chandler. Stepmother of Nathan Chandler. Daughter of Dorothy Fowerbaugh. Sister of Karen, Kurt, John, Mark and Paul Fowerbaugh.
COLLERAN, Twylla, M., 93, St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington, Nov. 27. Mother of Karen Slaven, Dennis and Terence Colleran. Sister of Bill Bugstad. Grandmother of two. Great-grandmother of four.
COX, Mary J., 88, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Richmond, Dec 14. Wife of Donald Cox. Mother of Mary Lee Linginfelter. Sister of Gerald and Robert Runnels. Grandmother of three.
CUTTER, Melvin W., 85, St. Mary-of-the-Rock, Franklin County, Dec. 17. Husband of Millie Cutter. Father of Judith Behlmer, Jill Beverage, Jenny Moeller and James Cutter. Brother of Lawrence and Rollin Cutter.
DEWES, II, Edward H., 89, St. Paul the Apostle, Greencastle, Dec. 26. Husband of Cynthia Dewes. Father of Katherine Dewes-Stark, Virginia, James and William Dewes. Grandfather of 14. Great-grandfather of 16.
FETTER, Margaret R., 77, St. Meinrad, St. Meinrad, Dec. 18. Mother of Karen Mangum. Sister of Helen Stenftenagel, Lucas, Jr., and Sylvester Luebbenhusen. Grandmother of one.
FLYNN, Vivian Kleiser (Daming), 86, St. Boniface, Fulda, Nov. 16. Mother of Jane Schipp, Greg, Keith, Kent, Tim and Tom Kleiser. Stepmother of Kathy Dant, Christine Loughery, Chris, David and Rick Flynn. Sister of Mary Frances Knepper, Randy and Ron Zoglman. Grandmother of 13. Step-grandmother of 17. Great-grandmother and step-great-grandmother of several.
GREENE, Irma, 77, St. Vincent de Paul, Shelby County, Dec. 15. Mother of Sheri Heck, Marsha Isaacs, Joyanna Lash, Billy, Jim and Michael Cavaletto. Grandmother of 17.
HERMESCH, Imogene C., 84, St. Mary, Greensburg, Dec. 16. Wife of Donald Hermesch. Mother of Donna Hay, Shari Scheidler and Gerald Hermesch. Sister of Kenneth Becker. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of eight.
KIEFER, Mary Jane, 81, Our Lady of the Greenwood, Greenwood, Dec. 17. Sister of Sally Williams, Patricia and Michael Kiefer. Aunt and great-aunt of several.
KLOECK, Thomas M., 78, St. Meinrad, St. Meinrad, Nov. 18. Husband of Sarah Kloeck. Father of Lisa Plummer, Stacy, Thomas and Tony Kloeck. Brother of Edwina and Theresa Wahl, Benedictine Sister Vera Kloeck and Betty Knust. Grandfather of nine. Great-grandfather of four.
KNECHT, James, 78, St. Joseph, Shelbyville,
Dec. 19. Husband of Mary Knecht. Father of Melissa Werst, Eric and Steve Knecht. Brother of Dolores Enneking, Marilyn Lanning, Laura Nickol, Carol Reed, Al, Bruce, Dick, Don and Marvin Knecht. Grandfather of four.
KOLB, Sarah J., 75, St. Michael, Brookville,
Dec. 21. Mother of Cindy, James and Thomas Kolb. Sister of Malte Caldwell, Mark Stidham, Charlie and Willie Wooten.
LECHER, Charles M., 80, St. Mary, Greensburg, Dec. 16. Father of Dianne Grannan, Carol Lohmueller, Doug, John, Mark, Matthew and Scott Lecher and Eric McGuire. Brother of Dennis, Eugene, Robert, Ronald and Steven Lecher. Grandfather of 11.
MARRS, Betty Jane, 89, St. Jude the Apostle, Spencer, Nov. 30. Mother of Linda Marrs-Morford, Jane Rabb, Peggy Walters, Mike, Pat and Paul Marrs. Grandmother of 14. Great-grandmother of 13.
MEISSNER, George R., 90, St. Luke the Evangelist, Indianapolis, Dec. 14. Father of Maureen Lakin, Peggy Loeffler, Patty McKenzie and Terry Meissner. Brother of Bob Meissner. Grandfather of 10. Great-grandfather of 12.
MOLTER, Rita, 93, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, April 14. Aunt of several.
MULLIS, Nina M., 84, St. Boniface, Fulda, Nov. 1. Wife of Dennis Mullis. Mother of Denise Leclere, Carla Williams and Brad Mullis. Grandmother of nine. Great-grandmother of seven. Great-great-grandmother of one.
NANN, Hermann, 80, St. Martin of Tours, Martinsville, Dec. 14. Husband of Judy Nann. Father of Daniela Kemble, Laura Young, Barbara and Hermann Nann and Dan Smith. Brother of Ursula Busing and Eberhard Nann. Grandfather of five.
OWENS, Judith R., 83, St. Mary, Greensburg, Dec. 17. Mother of Lisa Chambers and Tony Owens. Sister of Carmie Meyer and Dan Gindling. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of nine.
PAULIN, Jeanette, 86, St. Paul, Tell City, Dec. 21. Mother of Nancy Paulin Brucker, Helen, Theresa, David and John Paulin. Sister of Anna Bateman and Ethel Kuzma. Grandmother of eight. Great-grandmother of two.
RUDOLPH, Vestina M., 86, St. Paul, Tell City, Dec. 17. Wife of George Rudolph. Mother of Angela Baur, Melena Waninger, Ed, Keith and Jeff Rudolph. Grandmother of six. Great-grandmother of four.
SCHULER, Glenna Mae, 90, St. Maurice, Napoleon, Dec. 13. Mother of Brenda Nickell, Cathy Richmond, Dennis, Donald, Joel, Michael, Ricky and Robert Schuler. Sister of Mary Ellen McCorkle. Grandmother and great-grandmother of several.
SCZESNY, Amy J. (Vores), 69, St. Mary, Anderson, Ind. (Lafayette Diocese), director of A Caring Place, Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Jan. 1. Mother of Erin Milligan, Sara, Mark and Michael Sczesny. Daughter of Imelda Vores. Sister of Nancy Bollman, Patty Hughes, Margie Irwin, Lawrence and Nick Vores. Grandmother of four.
SIMON, Charles, 83, St. Maurice, Napoleon, Dec. 5. Father of Jennifer Ricke, Janet Wagner, Sandy Wenning, Joe, Mike, Paul and Tony Simon. Brother of Rita Bedel, Mary Gilland, Melinda Wissel, Amelia Wolter, Dale and Gene Simon. Grandfather of 22. Great-grandfather of 22.
VANDERUR, Sarah J., 88, St. Mary, Greensburg, Dec. 20. Mother of Marilyn, David, Karl, Kenny, Mike, Paul and Rick Vanderbur. Grandmother of six. Great-grandmother of two.
VOSMEIER, Janet, 77, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Richmond, Dec. 19. Sister of John Vosmeier. Aunt and great-aunt of several.
WHALEN, Frank T., 74, St. Paul, Tell City, Dec. 9. Husband of Mary Whalen. Father of Teresa Barr, Cheryl Ann Baumgart, Charles and Mark Whalen. Brother of Norma Deel, Beth Nix, Arlene Rauscher, David, John and Steve Whalen. Grandfather of nine.
WILLIAMS, William, 75, St. Joseph, Shelbyville, Dec. 20.
Husband of Mary Pat Williams. Grandfather of several.
WUESTEFELD, John M., 75, All Saints, Dearborn County, Dec. 20. Husband of Barbara Wuestfeld. Father of Nicole Becknell, Krista Kirchgassner and Michael Wuestefeld. Brother of Margaret Busse, Rose Ferry and Sue VanSkyhawk. Grandfather of 10.
Daughter of Charity Sister Ellen Marie Adams served at St. Vincent Hospital
Daughter of Charity Sister Ellen Marie Adams died on Dec. 21 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Ind. She was 92.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a memorial Mass for Sister Ellen Marie will be celebrated at a later date. Her burial took place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Evansville.
Sister Ellen Marie was born on May 22, 1928, in Marion, Ind. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1948.
Sister Ellen Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing education at DePaul University and a master’s degree in social work at the University of Chicago, both in Chicago.
During her 72 years as a member of the Daughters of Charity, Sister Ellen Marie ministered as a nurse and supervisor in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee. Beginning in 1975, she began service as a social worker, ministering in Indiana and Alabama.
In the archdiocese, Sister Ellen Marie served as a pastoral care associate at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis from 1979-84. She later ministered in Evansville as a health care pastoral care associate and in hospitality at her community’s convent there. Sister Ellen Marie retired from ministry in 1991 and dedicated herself to prayer at that time.
Sister Betty was a spiritual companion for inmates on death row at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, including one who was recently executed.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108.
Benedictine Father Augustine Davis served in education, was a missionary in Peru
Benedictine Father Augustine Davis, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, died on Dec. 21 at the monastery. He was 90.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 23. Burial followed at the Archabbey Cemetery.
Father Augustine was a 63-year jubilarian of monastic profession. He was also a jubilarian of ordination, having celebrated 61 years of life and ministry as a priest.
Father Augustine was born on Sept. 21, 1930, in Fairfax, Iowa.
He was a student at the former Saint Meinrad College before being invested as a novice at Saint Meinrad Archabbey on July 30, 1953.
Father Augustine professed temporary vows on July 31, 1954, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1957. He was ordained a priest on May 11, 1959.
Father Augustine earned a master’s degree in industrial arts in 1966 from Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
He then ministered in administration at the former St. Placid Hall at Saint Meinrad and taught religion, mathematics and industrial art courses in the former Saint Meinrad High School.
In 1966, Father Augustine was assigned to the former San Benito Prior and its seminary in Huaraz, Peru, where he ministered in administration and taught religion, mathematics and physics. After an earthquake in 1970, he served as the director of reconstruction and the physical plant.
Returning to Saint Meinrad in 1979, Father Augustine served as physical plant director and worked with contractors on the construction of the monastic community’s new monastery and library.
From 1986-96, he ministered as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburgh, Tenn., and oversaw a 600-acre beef farm.
After serving for a year at San Benito Abad Priory in Morelia, Mexico, Father Augustine returned to Saint Meinrad in 1997 to drive a mail and delivery van and direct a Spanish ministry program. In 2005, he began work in the office of physical facilities.
Father Augustine suffered a stroke in 2011 and resided in the monastery infirmary until his death.
Surviving are a sister, Rose Davis of Omaha, Neb., and two brothers, Joseph Davis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Robert Davis of Rock Falls, Iowa.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577.
Benedictine Father Vincent Tobin served in education and spiritual direction
Benedictine Father Vincent Tobin, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, died on Dec. 22, at the monastery. He was 87.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 29. Burial followed at the Archabbey Cemetery.
Father Vincent was a 66-year jubilarian of monastic profession. He was also a jubilarian of ordination, having celebrated 61 years of life and ministry as a priest.
Father Vincent was born on Jan. 28, 1933, in Pittsburgh.
He entered Saint Meinrad’s former Minor Seminary in 1947 and was invested as a novice at Saint Meinrad Archabbey on July 30, 1953.
Father Vincent professed temporary vows on July 31, 1954, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1957. He was ordained a priest on May 11, 1959.
Father Vincent earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1956 from the former Saint Meinrad College and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America in 1960. He later earned a master’s degree in Latin from St. Louis University in St. Louis in 1965, a master of divinity degree from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in 1974, and a licentiate degree in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1979.
Father Vincent began teaching Latin and English in the former Saint Meinrad High School in 1960. In 1965, he began ministry in Saint Meinrad College, holding various administrative positions, including dean of students, spiritual director and vice rector.
From 1975-78, Father Vincent served as the archabbey’s director of novices and juniors. He later served in the same position at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, Mass., and St. Mark Priory in South Union, Ky.
From 1986-2005, Father Vincent served at the Collegio di Sant’Anselmo in Rome, where he worked in administration and taught courses in Latin and Greek.
Beginning in 2005, he returned to Saint Meinrad to minister as manager of the then-newly built Archabbey Guest House and Retreat Center.
This ministry built on his previous work in spiritual direction. He had served as the first director of the Midwest Association of Spiritual Directors and the first president of the National Federation of Spiritual Directors.
Father Vincent is survived by a sister, Alice Prieto of Nashua, N.H.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577. †