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)
ALBRECHT, Ann, 80, St. Joseph, Indianapolis, Dec. 21. Mother of Marsha Konrad, Julie Shinn, Myra, Chris and Thomas Albrecht. Grandmother of 14. Great-grandmother of three.
BENTON, James V., Sr., 86, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jeffersonville, Dec. 26. Husband of Betty (Metzmeier) Benton. Father of Belinda Dennison, Cindy Weber and James Benton III. Brother of Gerty Thompson. Grandfather of nine. Great-grandfather of 13.
BLANK, Verda E., 91, St. Louis, Batesville, Jan. 6. Wife of Urban Blank. Mother of Connie Meyer, Peg Salatin and Tom Blank. Grandmother of 11. Great-grandmother of 26. Great-great-grandmother of one.
BUCKLER, Mildred Frances, 91, Our Lady of Lourdes, Indianapolis, Jan. 7. Mother of Mary Ann Callahan, Rose Ann Trees, Michael Walker Sr., Russell Walker Jr. and Thomas Walker.
CARPENTER, Frank L., 84, St. Mary, Rushville, Jan. 3. Husband of Kathryn (Zobel) Carpenter. Father of Janet Barker, Gina Jenkins, Gerry, Frank and Nick Carpenter. Brother of Lavinnia Bayless, Mary Louise McColley, Frankie Webster and Bill Carpenter. Grandfather of 10. Step-grandfather of one. Great-grandfather of five.
DeVILLEZ, Marcella M., 68, St. Paul, Tell City, Dec. 24. Mother of Pamela Goffinet and Michael DeVillez. Sister of Gilbert, Jerry and Keith Meunier. Grandmother of three.
FELTER, Harold G., 90, Christ the King, Indianapolis, Dec. 21. Father of John, Dr. Harold Jr. and Thomas Felter. Brother of John Hordych. Grandfather of several. Great-grandfather of several.
FRAPPIER, Robert Edward, 86, St. Roch, Indianapolis, Jan. 2. Father of Joseph Frappier.
FRICKE, Mary Louise (Endris), 87, Holy Family, New Albany, Dec. 20. Wife of Sherman Fricke. Mother of David and James Fricke. Sister of John Endris. Grandmother of four. Great-grandmother of five.
GILLES, Gerald J., 87, St. Joseph, Shelbyville, Jan. 1. Father of Karen Bowman, Debbie Bush, Bobbie Boldt, Brenda Cole, Jere Oakley, Judy Trennepohl, Dennis and Larry Gilles. Grandfather of 19. Great-grandfather of one.
GOELZER, Edria, 99, St. Augustine, Leopold, Dec. 26. Mother of Nelda Waninger. Grandmother of four. Great-grandmother of 10.
HARDING, Alberta, 85, St. Paul, Tell City, Dec. 21. Mother of Bill, Jim, Mike and Tim Harding. Sister of Carolyn Powers. Grandmother of 12.
HENTRUP, Louis A., 78, St. Barnabas, Indianapolis, Dec. 29. Husband of Juliann Hentrup. Father of Louis Hentrup Jr. Brother of 10. Grandfather of three.
HIGDON, Charles Franklin, 89, St. Rose of Lima, Franklin, Dec. 25.
HIGGINS, Mary Catherine, 86, St. Augustine, Jeffersonville, Dec. 26.
HUCK, Thomas R., 58, St. Barnabas, Indianapolis, Dec. 22. Husband of Kathleen Huck. Father of Erin Keller. Son of Dorothy Huck. Brother of Diana Huck. Grandfather of two.
JAYNES, George W., 71, St. Mary, New Albany, Dec. 18. Husband of Patricia (Young) Jaynes. Father of Troy Jaynes. Brother of Carolyn Henriott, Lorena Richards, Cathy Robinson, Patricia Stansbury, Mary, David and Donald James. Grandfather of two.
KNECHT, Charles J., 101, St. Michael, Brookville, Dec. 26. Father of Janet Deutsch, Joyce Lovins and John Knecht. Grandfather of 11. Great-grandfather of 16.
KOORS, Mary J., 88, Our Lady of the Greenwood, Greenwood, Jan. 8. Mother of Jane Dreyer, Diane Farah and Barb Grothe. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of six.
KRUER, Edward J., Sr., 87, St. Mary-of-the-Knobs, Floyds Knobs, Jan. 4. Husband of Mary Margaret Kruer. Father of Shirley Balmer, Wanda Bryant, Judy Curry, Peggy Fessel, Susie Morgan, Mary Ellen Rodriguez, Louise Stumler, Edward Jr., Jeff and Joseph Kruer. Brother of Irma Bierman, Bonnie Huber, Norma Johns and Martha Schmidt. Grandfather of 22. Great-grandfather of 13.
LONG, Rosemary, 86, St. Joseph, Indianapolis, Dec. 25. Mother of Theresa Bowerman, Joseph and Richard Long. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of one.
LYNETTE, Douglas W., 49, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Dec. 18. Son of Virgil and Delores Lynette. Brother of Brenda McDaniel, Becky, Pam, Brian, Bruce, Chris, Kevin and Michael Lynette. Grandson of Dorothy Milto.
RADEZ, Mary Kiam, 84, St. Joseph, Indianapolis, Dec. 31. Mother of Rose Ennis, Mary, Bernard, John, Richard, Robert and William Radez. Grandmother of 16. Great-grandmother of 13.
REEL, Eileen (Doyle), 58, St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower), Indianapolis, Dec. 28. Mother of Amy, Jennifer, Tracy and Michael Reel. Grandmother of three.
SCHLICHTE, Gary Thomas, 54, St. Paul, Sellersburg, Jan. 2. Husband of Jill Garrison. Father of Andrew and Mark Schlichte. Brother of Jeanie Gronning, Mary Robison, Eleanor Rutishauser, Carol Teebay, Anthony, Dennis, Michael, Robert and William Schlichte.
SCHNORR, Raymond John, Sr., 88, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Indianapolis, Dec. 24. Husband of Eloise K. (Hamant) Schnorr. Father of Mary Ann Evans, Janet Tosick, Matthew, Raymond Jr. and William Schnorr. Grandfather of 12. Great-grandfather of nine.
SCHOETTLE, Thomas J., Sr., 91, St. Barnabas, Indianapolis, Jan. 1. Husband of Josephine Schoettle. Father of Katherine Baker, Jeanne Caito, Josephine Grande, Christine Kegley, Mary Kissel, Mary Ann Reger, Anne Shaughnessy, Rosemary Turk, Anthony, Gerard, James, Joseph, Robert and Tom Schoettle Jr. Grandfather of 33. Great-grandfather of two.
SCREEN, Violet, 95, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Terre Haute, Dec. 13. Sister of Carolyn McCauley, Joy, Don and Robert Screen.
SEILER, William K., 87, Holy Family, New Albany, Dec. 22. Father of Becky Hollander. Grandfather of two.
SPALDING, Bernard V., 78, St. Joseph, Shelbyville, Dec. 13. Father of Belinda Sue Cord, Bernard and Carl Spalding. Brother of Loretta Foster, Martha Kendrick and Bertha Williams. Grandfather of seven. Great-grandfather of 10.
SPRAGG, Lori, 50, Christ the King, Indianapolis, Dec. 25. Daughter of Mary Spragg. Sister of Stacia Spragg-Braude, Cecilia Spragg Perry and Vincent Spragg.
STENGER, Mary A. (Mergenthal), 83, St. Michael, Brookville, Dec. 21. Mother of Rose Crawford, Betty Dauby, Fay Willhelm, John and Ray Mergenthal. Stepmother of Judy and Janet Bedel, Gerry Buckler, Marjorie Wietlisbach and Ed Stenger. Sister of Elmer, Lester, Mark and Ralph Sterwerf. Grandmother of 19. Step-grandmother of 22. Great-grandmother of 26. Step-great-grandmother of 39. Step-great-great-grandmother of one.
STERWERF, Luke L., 71, St. Michael, Brookville, Dec. 10. Brother of Mary Stenger, Elmer, Lester, Mark and Ralph Sterwerf.
STEWART, Rosanna Evelyn, 72, St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, Dec. 5. Wife of John L. Stewart. Mother of Sheila Wood, Diana Young and Robert Stewart. Sister of Augusta Keeler. Grandmother of four. Great-grandmother of one.
STICKLER, Jane, 94, St. Michael, Bradford, Dec. 12. Mother of May Miller, Patricia Smith, Herbert and John Stickler.
TERRYN, Joan, 76, Holy Family, Richmond, Dec. 12. Cousin of one.
TOBY, Joseph P., 84, St. Joseph, Sellersburg, Dec. 29. Father of Douglas and Tony Toby. Grandfather of three. Great-grandfather of one.
TRUEBLOOD, Eloise, 79, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Albany, Dec. 10. Mother of Linda Norwood and John Trueblood. Grandmother of three.
VOGELSANG, Marvin S., 82, St. Louis, Batesville, Jan. 8. Husband of Mary Vogelsang. Father of Debbie Amberger, David, Gary, John, Ron and Tom Vogelsang. Grandfather of 14. Great-grandfather of two.
WERMELINGER, Mary A., 82, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Dec. 17. Aunt of several.
WHITAKER, Steve, 57, St. Paul, Tell City, Nov. 21. Husband of Stephanie Whitaker. Father of Morgan Whitaker. Son-in-law of Louie and Suzanne Kraus. Brother of Debbie Moore and Sue Whitaker.
WISSNER, Martha E., 96, St. Mark the Evangelist, Indianapolis, Dec. 17. Sister of Rita Randolph, Marie Walpole and Edward Hartman. Aunt of several.
WOOD-CHAPMAN, Sadie E., 93, Holy Angels, Indianapolis, Nov. 23.
WOZNIAK, Rosalee K., 88, St. Anne, New Castle, Dec. 5. Mother of Valerie Slater, Vicki Stark, Venice and Vincent Wozniak. Sister of Merrillyn Morgan. Grandmother of seven. Great-grandmother of six.
WYMAN, Frances M., 94, St. Roch, Indianapolis, Dec. 11. Mother of Mollie Stanfield. Sister of Molly Dugan. Grandmother of six. Great-grandmother of nine.
YANNOTTI, Filomena F., 94, Holy Spirit, Indianapolis, Dec. 3. Mother of William Dufner. Sister of Mary Bernardo and Rose Fischer.
Holy Cross Brother Marius Wittner taught at Cathedral, Gibault School
Holy Cross Brother Marius Wittner died on Nov. 26 at Dujarie House, the infirmary at Holy Cross Village, in Notre Dame, Ind. He was 88.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Nov. 30 at Our Lady of Holy Cross Chapel at Dujarie House at Holy Cross Village. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery at Holy Cross Village.
Brother Marius was remembered as a dedicated teacher and prayerful man, who spent significant time in church or chapel and was a spiritual model for students and brothers.
The former John Wittner was born on Sept. 20, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio.
He joined the Holy Cross Brothers at Sacred Heart Postulate in Watertown, Wis.
In 1938, he received the habit of the brothers at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Rolling Prairie, Ind. He made his first profession of vows in August 1939 and perpetual profession in 1942.
At the University of Notre Dame, he earned a bachelor of science degree in 1943 and a master of science degree in education in 1950.
In the archdiocese, he taught science and mathematics at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis from 1943-52 and Father Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute from 1967-76.
While ministering at Catholic Central High School in Monroe, Mich., from 1976-89, he served as superior of the local community of Holy Cross brothers for three years.
He taught at St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind., from 1952-54 and at St. Edward’s High School in Austin, Texas, from 1954-57.
Brother Marius also taught at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio, from 1957-67. He served on the faculty at Holy Cross High School in River Grove, Ill., from 1989-99.
Brother Marius retired in 1999 and returned to Columba Hall at Notre Dame.
In 2001, his health declined and he moved to Dujarie House.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, Holy Cross House, P.O. Box 1048, Notre Dame, IN 46556. †
Providence Sister Elizabeth Rose
Weisenbach was teacher, principal
Providence Sister Elizabeth Rose Weisenbach died on Dec. 6 at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. She was 85.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Dec. 12 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery at the motherhouse.
The former Rosella Weisenbach was born on July 18, 1922, in Indianapolis.
She earned a bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
She entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Jan. 6, 1940, and professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1942, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1948.
During 67 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education as a teacher, guidance counselor, registrar and secretary for 45 years at Catholic schools in Indiana, Illinois and California.
She also served as a pastoral associate at a parish in Indiana and a parish in California.
In Indianapolis, Sister Elizabeth Rose served at Holy Spirit School from 1952-56, the former Cathedral Grade School from 1958-60 and the former St. Andrew School from 1965-68.
Sister Elizabeth Rose ministered as principal at the former St. Joseph School in Indianapolis from 1968-70.
She also served in Indianapolis at St. Joan of Arc School from 1972-76, St. Philip Neri School from 1976-77, Cathedral High School from 1980-85 and Cardinal Ritter High School from 1992-93.
In 1993, Sister Elizabeth Rose moved to the motherhouse and ministered at the Woods Day Care then served at the Office of Congregational Advancement.
She retired and began her ministry of prayer in 2003.
Surviving are two sisters, Hilda Atkinson of Youngtown, Ariz., and Dorothy Woods of Gulfport, Fla.; a brother, Jim Weisenbach of Indianapolis; two sisters-in-law, Rosie Weisenbach of Indianapolis and Rita Jolley of Palm Desert, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.
Providence Sister Catherine Wilcox
served in education for 55 years
Providence Sister Catherine Joseph Wilcox died on Dec. 31 at Mother Theodore Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 94.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Jan. 4 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery at the motherhouse.
The former Charlotte Alice Wilcox was born on Nov. 4, 1913, in Chicago.
She entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Feb. 11, 1939, and professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1941, and final vows on Jan. 23, 1947.
Sister Catherine Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree at Mundelein College in Chicago and master’s degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.
In 1986, Sister Catherine Joseph was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
During 68 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 55 years at Catholic schools in Indiana and Illinois.
In the archdiocese, Sister Catherine Joseph served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1945-68.
For the last 25 years of her ministry in education, she worked in public relations and communications at Mother Theodore Guérin High School in River Grove, Ill.
Sister Catherine Joseph also volunteered there for eight years before retiring and returning to the motherhouse in 2004. At that time, she dedicated herself to the ministry of prayer.
She is survived by several cousins.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876. †