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)
BEDAN, Carroll L., 80, St. Mary-of-the-Knobs, Floyd County, Sept. 5. Husband of Jeanette Bedan. Father of Debra Wilson and Jeffery Bedan. Brother of Gary Bedan. Grandfather of four. Great‑grandfather of four.
BOGEMAN, Paul V., 100, St. Christopher, Indianapolis, Sept. 10. Father of Vicky Leak and Betty Bogeman. Grandfather of five. Great‑grandfather of 12.
BREEN, Edward F., Jr., 54, St. Christopher, Indianapolis, Sept. 7. Husband of JoAnn Brown. Son of Edward Breen, Sr., and Elizabeth Breen. Step‑father of Taylor Flanery and Sierra Underwood. Brother of Beth Lewis and Peggy Wilson. Step-grandfather of three.
CHRISTIE, Mary Patricia (Clifford), 89, St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower), Aug. 31. Mother of Denise Demeter, Ann Sherlock, Nancy White, Dennis, Keith and Lee Christie. Sister of Joan Clifford. Grandmother of 20. Great-grandmother of 10.
DAVIS, Stella M., 90, St. Simon the Apostle, Indianapolis, Sept. 4. Mother of Ann Smyth and Andrew Davis. Grandmother of two.
DICKMAN, Richard F., 88, St. Louis, Batesville, Sept. 7. Husband of Irene Dickman. Father of Carmen Belter, Colleen Doll, Nancy Kinker, Mara Kruthaupt, Geralyn Litzinger, Shelia Merkel, Ellen Paul, Karen Snuffer, Ann Sweeney, Daniel and Dennis Dickman. Brother of Shirley Suttman and Alvin Dickman. Grandfather of 29. Great-grandfather of 13.
FILIATREAU, Dorothy M., 102, Christ the King, Indianapolis, Grandmother of two. Great-grandmother of one.
FIRSICH, Leon E., 87, St. Gabriel, Connersville, Sept. 12. Husband of Nancy Firsich. Father of Lee Ann Girolami and Daniel Firsich. Brother of Mary Ann Williams. Grandfather of three. Great‑grandfather of one.
FROELICH, Paula D., 68, St. Anthony, Indianapolis, Sept. 1. Daughter of Richard Froelich. Sister of Mike and Steve Froelich. Aunt and great‑aunt of several.
HAURI, Ruth C. (Eckerle), 99, St. Gabriel, Connersville, Sept. 3. Mother of Francis, Melvin and Richard Hauri. Grandmother of 19. Great‑grandmother of 32. Great‑great-grandmother of nine.
HESSION, Jacqueline K., 84, St. Malachy, Brownsburg, Aug. 14. Mother of Colleen Bohm, Lora Kay Cooksley and Daniel Hession. Sister of Theresa Davidson, Joann Gates, Shirley Priest, Leo and Richard Runyon. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of two.
HOPKINS, Martha, 88, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Richmond, Sept. 4. Mother of Mary Weiss, Dennis, Doug and Steve Hopkins. Sister of Donald Eales. Grandmother of eight. Great-grandmother of nine.
KOOPMAN, Margaret D., 83, St. John the Baptist, Starlight, Aug. 18. Wife of Lawrence Koopman. Mother of Kathy Hash, Mary Kraha, Rebecca, Peter and Ron Koopman. Sister of Carol, Ralph and Judy Schleicher. Grandmother of eight. Great‑grandmother of 18.
MCCALLISTER, Margaret A., 85, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Aug. 29. Mother of Theresa Vickers. Grandmother of four. Great-grandmother of six.
MCCARTY, Norman E., 82, St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower), Aug. 23. Husband of Ann McCarty. Father of Jeanette Corrigan, Marianna and Scott McCarty. Brother of Carolyn Stralka and Phyllis Young. Grandfather of six. Great-grandfather of three.
MEYER, Evelyn L., 86, St. Michael, Brookville, Sept. 6.
O’TOOLE, Steven T., 71, St. Bridget of Ireland, Liberty, Sept. 11. Husband of Susan O’Toole. Father of Gena Waltz and Martin O’Toole. Grandfather of two.
PAPANDRIA, Robert J., 68, St. Malachy, Brownsburg, Sept. 4. Husband of Julie Papandria. Father of Christopher and Nicholas Papandria. Brother of Anthony, Jr. and David Papandria. Grandfather of three.
PARSHALL, Emma C., 91, St. Luke the Evangelist, Indianapolis, Sept. 11. Mother of Patty Eddleman, Nancy Weyl and Steven Parshall. Grandmother of 10. Great‑grandmother of nine.
RICOL, Pascual, 94, St. Malachy, Brownsburg, Sept. 2. Husband of Antonia Ricol. Father of Antonio Ricol. Grandfather of two. Great‑grandfather of five.
THOMAS, Joseph, Sr., 89, St. Mary, Navilleton, Sept. 8. Husband of Joan Thomas. Father of Cheri Knable Bierman, Chris Knabel Franz, Vicki and John Knabel, Dennis, Joe, Jr. and Larry Thomas. Brother of Regina Barnes, Uldine Skees and Charles Thomas, Jr. Grandfather of 21. Great-grandfather of 30.
WITTICH, Philip R., 70, St. John the Baptist, Osgood, Aug. 29. Husband of Barbara Wittich. Father of Amy Miller, Leanne Smiley and Julie Wittich. Brother of Janet Broz. Grandfather of eight.
Benedictine Father Mel Patton was an educator, liturgical musician and chaplain
Benedictine Father Mel Patton, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, died on Sept. 6 in the monastery infirmary. He was 93.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 10. Burial followed in the Archabbey Cemetery.
Father Mel was a jubilarian of monastic profession, having celebrated 65 years of monastic profession. He was also a jubilarian of ordination, having celebrated 61 years of life and ministry as a priest
Raymond Anthony Patton was born on March 2, 1925, in Fairview Park, Ohio. After graduating from high school, Father Mel enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as an infantryman in Europe during the last two years of World War II. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
An accomplished pianist, Father Mel studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. He accompanied the Little Theater at Severance Hall in Cleveland for four years, during which time he also accompanied the Finnish Light Opera Company. He also served as organist and choir director at John Carroll University in Cleveland and as organist at St. Gregory the Great Parish in South Euclid, Ohio.
Father Mel earned a bachelor’s degree in French in 1949 at John Carroll University and continued studies in Latin and English. He later earned a master’s degree in journalism at Marquette University in Milwaukee and a master of divinity degree at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad.
Father Mel was invested as a novice of Saint Meinrad Archabbey on July 30, 1952, professed temporary vows on July 31, 1953, and solemn vows on Aug. 6, 1956. He was ordained a priest on Sept. 22, 1956.
After ordination, he served the monastic community in public relations and as a retreat director and organist. He also taught English at the former Saint Meinrad High School and Saint Meinrad College for 28 years, as well as offering lessons in piano, organ and singing.
Father Mel later served as an organist at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala., and the former Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin, S.D. He also ministered as a chaplain at Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro, Ark., and at Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, S.D.
For almost 20 years, Father Mel ministered on weekends as a military chaplain at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He resided in the monastery infirmary beginning in 2010.
Father Mel is survived by a brother, Manus J.T. Patton of Grafton, Ohio.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577.
Franciscan Sister Irvin Marie Kreiner served in Catholic education for 42 years
Franciscan Sister Irvin Marie Kreimer died on Sept. 8 at the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg. She was 97.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 11 at the Motherhouse Chapel in Oldenburg. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.
Florence Catherine Kreimer was born on July 15, 1921, in Cincinnati.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis on Sept. 8, 1938, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1944.
During 80 years as a Sister of St. Francis, Sister Irvin Marie ministered as an educator for 42 years in Catholic schools in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio. In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at St. Therese of Infant Jesus (Little Flower) School from 1940‑45, Our Lady of Lourdes School from 1945-50 and at St. Lawrence School from 1974-78. She also served at St. Mary School in Greensburg from 1950-51, Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove from 1978-81 and at the former St. Mary School in New Albany from 1982-83.
Sister Irvin Marie returned to the motherhouse in 1983 and ministered as employee manager for the community and later as motherhouse minister. She served an additional 13 years as a motherhouse chauffer before retiring at 84.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036-0100.
Franciscan Sister Rosemary Lee served in Catholic education for 35 years
Franciscan Sister Rosemary Lee, formerly Sister Damien Marie Lee, died on Aug. 30 at the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg. She was 96.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 5 at the Motherhouse Chapel in Oldenburg. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.
Sister Rosemary was born on July 25, 1922, in Indianapolis, where she grew up as a member of the former St. Catherine of Siena Parish on the city’s south side. She also attended the former St. Mary Academy in Indianapolis.
Sister Rosemary entered the Sisters of St. Francis on Sept. 8, 1940, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1946.
During 78 years as a Sister of St. Francis, Sister Rosemary ministered as an educator for 35 years in Catholic schools in Indiana and Ohio. In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at St. Mark the Evangelist School from 1976-77 and at the former St. Rita School from 1969-71. She also served at St. Andrew School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond from 1942-43, the former St. Mary School in New Albany from 1943‑46, the former Sacred Heart School in Clinton from 1946-55, St. Mary School in Greensburg from 1961-63 and Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove from 1971-76.
The last 18 years of Sister Rosemary’s ministry before her retirement in 1996 was at Marian University in Indianapolis, where she served in its mailroom and in ministry to the poor.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036-0100. †