Jessica D. Welch

To view the Funeral Mass for Jessica please follow this link https://www.facebook.com/saintmonicaindy/

Jessica Dolores (Lawrence) Welch, born March 3, 1923, graced this world every day until she left us for heaven December 15, 2021.

Her parents, Anthony Perry Lawrence and Mary Martha Mitchell also had a son William (Bill) that Jessica adored. Even though Bill lives in Oregon, he traveled to Indy almost yearly and called her weekly.

Jessica graduated from St Agnes Academy. She worked and attended college during the war.

Her family lived on the Eastside of Indianapolis. They were members of Our Lady of Lourdes parish which is where she married Malcolm F Welch.

They had 3 children. Barbara Dolores (Welch) McLin, wife of William McLin, Malcolm F Welch, husband of Lisa (Reeve) Welch, and Catherine L Baez. Jessica has 7 grandchildren, William McLin and Rebecca McLin Seyferth, Angelique Baez Mertz, Kent, Nicholas, Lili and Kyle Welch and 10 great grandchildren, McKenzie and Cooper Seyferth, Michael and Lauren Welch, Alex Welch, and Vivi and Coleman Mertz, Chloe and Wesley and Sam McLin.

All the kids loved going to visit Grammy Welch. She read to them, played games with them, challenged them academically and showered them with love.

Jessica was always teaching. She was teaching Girl Scouts, Religious Education and life skills wherever she went.

After her divorce she went to Indiana Central and got her undergraduate degree. Her love of learning then took her to Butler to earn her Master’s Degree and following that she went to Purdue to work on a PhD.

Our mom was the President of an American Legion Auxiliary Chapter, President of the PTO at St Bernadette School, as well as at St Jude. She was a member of Indiana’s Desegregation Team. She has earned awards for outstanding student, outstanding teacher and more. She has a brick with her name in it at the head of the downtown canal (a mayor’s award). She literally has two walls full of plaques. She was a guide at the Eiteljorg Museum. She has sung in choirs since she was a teenager. Her list of accomplishments is long.

Jessica taught gifted students in Perry Township for many years. She retired and then helped develop Sycamore School. There she wrote curriculum and taught second grade.

After she retired the first time she began tutoring in her home and then also as a volunteer in Pike Twp.

But with all of the above, she was first and foremost a dedicated Catholic Christian and put love of God and family at the top of her priority list.

She blessed our lives and all those with whom she came in contact.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Flanner and Buchanan Speedway.

Visitation and Funeral will be held Jan 3 at St Monica’s Catholic Church.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and the Funeral will begin at 11:00 am.

Following the funeral will be a gravesite service at Our Lady of Peace Mausoleum.

Lunch and fellowship will follow at St Monica’s.

Donations may be made to the Sycamore Fund, in honor of Jessica Welch, Sycamore School, 1750 W 64th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260.