Dorothy Joan "Dot" Land

Dorothy Joan "Dot" Land, age 92, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Dorothy was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Helen (Roessler) Land and John F. Land, Sr. She is also preceded in death by her brother, John F. Land, Jr. and sister-in-law and dear friend, Janice (Wickens) Land.

Over the years, Dot was a member of Little Flower and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Churches. With her best friend, Barbara Neville, she enjoyed attending different masses at churches all over Indianapolis, including Sacred Heart, Holy Cross, Holy Rosary, Christ the King, and St. Pius X. She attended St. Philip Neri grade school and St. Mary Academy secondary school. There she made many lifelong friends, and throughout the years they shared adventures together both near and far in locations such as New York, California, Cuba, and Europe.

Dot was a proud employee of L.S. Ayres, working her way up to buyer of leather goods. She moved on to spend the last years of her career in the insurance industry while also caring for her mother for 15 years in the family home. After retirement, Dot enjoyed volunteering at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Dot’s smile and laughter were infectious, allowing her to make friends wherever she went. She loved dogs, Peanuts cartoons, road trips, organ music, the old downtown and eastside of Indy, homemade pie, port wine, and was an aficionado of vintage movies and film stars. Dot appreciated anything to do with the Indianapolis Fire Department as her beloved father, John F. Land, Sr, was an active city firefighter for 43 years.

Her travels to visit her nephew, David, and his family in Colorado brought Dot great joy. Dot and her niece, Karen, shared a special bond, and some of her most treasured times were spent in Alaska watching Karen and her huskies compete in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Dot and Karen supported one another on their shared and individual journeys right to the end.

Dot will be greatly missed by her niece, Karen Land; nephew, David Land-Closson (and Linda Land-Closson); and great nephews, Ivan and Anthony Land-Closson. Her cousin, Fr. Joseph Rautenberg, meant the world to her. Mo Sullivan, Brenda Alford (deceased), and Phillip Christopher were special friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by her cousin, Fr. Joseph Rautenberg, will be held Friday, August 25, 2023 at 2 PM at Calvary Cemetery Chapel, 435 W Troy Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225 where she will be laid to rest with her parents.

In lieu of flowers, Aunt Dot says, “take someone you love to the movies.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com for the Land family.