Suzanne Brosnahan Southern

Suzanne Brosnahan Southern (formerly Suzanne Hipskind Kiley), age 85, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away Saturday, September 4, 2021. She was born on November 1, 1935 in Harvey, Illinois, to James and Irene Hipskind. The family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she attended St. Patrick’s Catholic grade school and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School in 1953. Suzanne attended Barry College for Women in Miami, Florida, for her freshman year, where in addition to her studies she also enjoyed waterskiing on the Atlantic Ocean on weekends. She transferred to Purdue University her sophomore year where she majored in Home Economics and earned her BS in 1957. At Purdue, Suzanne was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Alpha Chi Chapter, and was the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi in 1955. Suzanne taught at Central Catholic High School in Fort Wayne for 1 year after graduation. She married John L. Kiley, Jr., in June of 1958, and moved to Kokomo, Indiana. There she enjoyed raising her seven children and being an active member in the Cheer Guild and Tri Kappa. Suzanne began working at Howard County Job Training Corp in Kokomo in 1986 and then at Goodwill Industries in Indianapolis in 1993, until she retired in 2000. She moved to her beloved Muir Woods neighborhood in Indianapolis in 1991 where she spent 30 years among wonderful friends and neighbors. For several years she authored the Muir Woods newsletter and served on the homeowners association. She would often be seen on her front porch in the afternoons with her shih tzu, KaiLee. She moved to Independence Village of South Fishers in June of 2021. Some of Suzanne’s fondest memories are growing up barefoot all summer long at Lake Wawasee at the Hipskind family cottage. She would later take her children to the Kiley cottage in Pickwick Park at Wawasee. Sue’s children were all on swim teams, she enjoyed attending swim meets and took pride in being an IHSAA official. She said it kept them clean and out of trouble. Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents, James and Irene Hipskind, her brother Norm Hipskind, and her former husband, Jack Kiley. She is survived by her brother, Tim Hipskind, her sister, Dr. Jeanette Hipskind and wife Linda, her four daughters, Kim Fleer; Monica Cicalo and her husband Tony, Erin Baker and her husband Dan, and Kathleen Martine and her husband Lou, and her three sons Tim Kiley, Pat Kiley, and Mike Kiley and his wife Angie (Hunley), and 10 grandchildren, Brian and Holly Baker, Daniel, Marie, Madeleine and Matthew Martine, BreAnne Fleer and Olivia, Julia and Katherine Kiley, and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She had a special relationship with her grandmother, Grace Southern, and recreated that love by being supportive and encouraging to her own grandchildren. She is remembered for meeting everyone with a warm smile and a kind word. Services will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2021, in the chapel at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, 9001 Haverstick Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning with visitation at 11:00am, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 pm. The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care given by everyone at Independence Village of South Fishers, and the kind and giving staff at IU Health Saxony Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to National Alliance on Mental Illness at dontate.nami.org Online condolences available at: www.leppertmortuary.com