Dolores Marie Conner

Dolores Marie (Mayer) Conner, Beech Grove, 96, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Dolores, known as Dee to family and friends, was born on August 16, 1927, to the late Stella Marie (Paetz) and Frank Bernard Mayer. Dee was the second of six children and was raised on the east side of Indianapolis. She graduated from St. Mary Academy in 1945 and went on to graduate with a biology degree from Marian College in 1949. Upon graduation, she was employed as a Phlebotomist at Indianapolis General Hospital for two years.

On September 29, 1951, Dee married Thomas C. Conner, who preceded her in death in 1978. They raised their four sons in a house built in Beech Grove in 1952. They became lifelong members of Holy Name Catholic Church, where Dee volunteered for the Altar Society for numerous years. She was a strong supporter of and advocate for Catholic education which included Holy Name Elementary School and Roncalli High School. She substitute taught on a regular basis in many of the south side Indianapolis Catholic grade schools.

Dee was a bookworm and enjoyed reading mystery novels. She also was in numerous card groups over the years, playing Bridge, Euchre and Tripoley with friends. She was an avid lover of Christmas lights, and looked forward to seeing the displays every year. She was a tennis player in her younger years, and enjoyed camping with her husband, sons, and in-laws. She participated in and occasionally taught water aerobics. She enjoyed bargain shopping, volunteering with the St. Vincent DePaul help line, and traveling with family, friends, and the Beech Grove's Senior Citizen's group.

Dee loved to host birthday dinners for her sons and their wives. She owned and enjoyed browsing through cookbooks; her homemade frosted brownies were always a favorite.

The Conner family would like to thank the staff at Envive of Beech Grove (formerly St. Paul Hermitage) for the help provided to their mother. They will be forever grateful for the support and kindness shown. Dee is survived by her four sons: Mike (Re) Conner, David Conner, Jim (Paula Hundley) Conner, and Steve (Julie) Conner; grandchildren: Greg (Sarah) Conner, Mark (Ashley) Conner, Drew (Kelsey) Conner, Nick Conner, and Ashley Conner; great-grandchild: Owen Conner; sisters: Dorothy Catton, Jeanne O'Gara, and Joanne (Bill) Johnson, as well as many extended family members. Dee was preceded in death by her sister Clarissa, brother Richard and his wife Rita (O' Gara) Mayer, brothers-in-law Jim Catton and Tom O'Gara, and sister-in-law Donna (Conner) and her husband Don Springman.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Little and Sons Funeral Home, 4901 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, IN 46237. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church, 89 N. 17th Avenue, Beech Grove, IN 46107. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 435 W. Troy Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Dee's memory to Holy Name Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.