Patricia Ann Townsend

Patricia “Pat” A. (Duffin Scheibelhut Batza) Townsend returned to her heavenly home on March 15, 2020, less than two weeks shy of her 94th birthday. A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, she was born March 24, 1926 to John A. and Mary J. (Faulstich) Duffin, both deceased. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands John R. Scheibelhut, John A. Batza, and Earl R. (Dick) Townsend; siblings and their spouses Mary Jane (Gene) Arbuckle, Joan (Jim) Long, Jack (Coletta) Duffin, and Tom (Jani) Duffin, as well as daughter-in-law Diane Batza and great-grandson Ayden Joe Glover.

Pat is survived by her brother, James (Re) Duffin; Sons Paul (Cindy) Scheibelhut and Bill (Christy) Scheibelhut; Daughters Diane (Keith) Davis and Barbara (Edwin Lee) Martin; Rick (Anita) Batza, Dena (Erman Hall) Townsend, and Debbie (Greg) Adrian. Family was everything to Pat, and she adored her 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces & nephews that she kept up with as if they were her own.

She attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, St. Mary’s Academy and Marian College. Up until the last few years, Pat continued to meet with those lifelong friends for monthly luncheons and Christmas celebrations. Her Class of 1946 was recently honored at (now) Marian University for their continuous longevity and support for the once All-Women’s school of the 1940’s.

When Pat became a widow due to cancer at age 37, she faced the same hardships experienced by any single parent of 4 kids under the age of 13. With a family to raise, she said she didn’t have the option to fail. She got a job as a secretary, went back to school to learn shorthand, and put all her children through 12 years of Catholic school & 4 years of college. She founded a Catholic group of widows & widowers at Little Flower Parish where she was a member. She named it “The Fifth Wheelers Club,” after how she was often made to feel in social settings because she was alone. It eventually grew to be a city-wide Catholic organization due to her vision of inclusion for those who had lost their spouse.

Pat was widowed twice more during her lifetime, losing another husband to cancer and one to complications from diabetes. Her strong Catholic faith sustained her through these losses, and the love she had for Angels kept her strong as she faced cancer herself on three separate occasions.

She loved God. She loved life. She loved being surrounded by her family & thrived when making new friends.

She was the Matriarch of the family, & she will be forever missed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Pat’s memory to Riley Children’s Foundation,30 S. Meridian St, Ste. 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204, [email protected] or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, https://ww5.komen.org/GetInvolved/Donate/MemorialsandTributes/MemorialsTributes.html

Private visitation will be held Friday, April 24, 2020 and Saturday, April 25, 2020, followed by a private service at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary. Burial will be held at Holy Cross/St.Joseph Cemetery, 2446 S. Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225.

Online condolences and memories for the family may be shared at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com.