Patricia Mercedes Kemper Meiring

Patricia Mercedes Kemper Meiring, born February 18th, 1950, was called to Heaven on March 21, 2024. “Trish” passed away at home in the arms of beloved family members. She lived a beautiful, dignified life.

A discerning woman of exquisite taste, she provided comfort, solace and levity to all while asking little in return. Her husband, Kenneth, adored her and together they raised their boys, James Stephen and Kenneth Kemper, with integrity, loyalty, compassion and humor.

She is survived by her husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, Lenore Macheck Meiring and three granddaughters, her “Sweet Baby Girls”: Katherine Lenore, Caroline Maria and Hannah Grace. She also leaves behind siblings Gloria Elizabeth Kemper, Alicia Wolfgang Kemper, Robert James Kemper, Felicia Camille Kemper, Morgen Roberta Tuerk and Merideth Candace Kemper. She was predeceased by her parents, Robert Meredith and Gloria Elizabeth Kemper, and two siblings: Marcia Suzanne Kemper Cipollina and Trapnaull Lance Kemper. Her Aunt Hatter (Harriett Thomas), numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews will miss her dearly.

Trish grew up in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, fourth of nine children. She attended Shortridge High School and IU Nursing School. She was 17 and KP was 20 when she caught his eye. They fell in love. They were too young to know that they didn’t know, and they married on June 24, 1967. Jim was born one year and eight months later. Jim’s birth set them on a course of unwavering familial and community responsibility. Kemper was born six years later.

Trish lived her life with grace and civility. Her calling was to serve. She raised the boys, helped KP build numerous businesses (she was a meticulous bookkeeper), and provided family holidays for both her and KP’s families. She volunteered at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Zionsville with the “St. Al’s Gals” and spent many hours as a doula at Methodist Hospital.

She was an accomplished artist of many mediums. She won 1st prize in the 500 Art Festival Watercolor Division while she was just a sophomore in high school. She went on to win 3rd place for her cheesecake recipe at the Indiana State Fair in 2019. She won a whopping $6.00 prize for that! Her cooking and baking skills were exceptional, as was her quilting and needlepoint.

Trish knew KP and her athletic boys needed to experience this beautiful world. Summers in Nantucket, skiing on many of the amazing slopes out west and traveling Europe were important to her. She was happiest when she was with her family. All through their travels her well-developed sense of humor was pervasive. The family will remember her comfortable seat on the wooden bench in Nantucket, surreptitiously finding her at the New Orleans airport and no one will forget the “palm oil incident” at Thanksgiving. She blessed us with so many memories that elicit a smile or a laugh out loud. Trish made life fun! She lived her life as if it was an unexpected gift and was profoundly joyful and grateful for her time with us.

A memorial visitation for Patricia will be held Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208. A mass of Chrisitan Burial will occur Friday, April 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Alphonsus Liguori Roman Catholic Church, 1870 W Oak St, Zionsville, IN 46077.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to I380016198 Indiana Center for Liver Research - General support of the Indiana Center for Liver Research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the Department of Medicine within the IU School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, RO 260 Indianapolis, IN 46202.