Jamie Sue Kilander

Born on July 15, 1936 in Clayton, Georgia, Jamie was the eldest daughter to Marie & Robert Goussy. She moved with her family to Indianapolis at age 14 where she graduated from Thomas Carr Howe High School. It was here that she met her beloved husband, Gerry Kilander, who she married in 1958.

A convert to Catholicism and a parishioner of Saint Matthew parish for over 55 years, Jamie was a member of the women’s guild and lead both Brownie and Cub Scouting troops. Jamie worked first as a dental assistant, then as an executive secretary and later in life spent 20 years in the admissions department at Community Hospital ER. She was very detail oriented which earned the respect of each of her employers.

But above all else, Jamie’s purpose in life was being a wife, mother and a grandmother. She was tiny but mighty, a worrier and a warrior and loved her family fiercely. She woke up every morning to protect and forward the well-being of each family member. Her most notable act of love and self-sacrifice was her steadfast support of son, Chris, during years of dialysis and multiple organ transplants. Jamie was a hands on, get-on-the-floor-and-play kind of grandmother. Her 9 grandchildren were the light of her life and her special one-on-one engagement with each of them resulted in unique, memory-filled one-of-a-kind relationships.

Jamie was a special person. She did everything out of love, thought of others before herself, was poised, gracious and polite. She was humble and composed, never escalated tensions and always served as peacemaker. She had a keen eye for fashion, a passion for chocolate, and arguably made the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet. She was a neat freak, a wonderful homemaker and did the best she could to keep her home tidy amidst the chaos that was a household of 6. She was family famous for being an amazing gift giver, creating Christmas magic and planning and executing amazing family vacations. Jamie modeled for her family how to take care of one another and others.

Jamie was preceded in death by her husband, Gerry Kilander, mother, Marie Goussy, father, Robert Goussy, & brother, Jim Goussy. She is survived by her four children, Kim (Rick), Mike (Linda), Chris, Steve (Libbi), and 9 grandchildren, Kendall, Connor (Lindsay), Brooke, Ryen, Bailey, Feona, Caden, Theo & Nova, and her sister, Wanda Bell along with multiple nieces and nephews. Her legacy of love will endure through each of them.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Friday, November 29th at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary, 2126 E. 71st Street. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Saturday November 30th at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 4100 E. 56th St., with Christian burial to follow at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions in Jamie’s name may be made to: Indiana Donor Network in support of organ transplantation www.indianadonornetwork.org or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America www.alzfdn.org