Mary Joan Koors, 88 of Indianapolis and formerly of Tipton died at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, October 1, 2018 at Forum at the Crossing in Indianapolis.  She was born on September 1, 1930 in Terre Haute to John & Philomena (Bockhold) Hellmann.  She married Paul H. Koors, the love of her life, on June 3, 1950 and after 66 years of marriage he preceded her in death on January 6, 2017.  After living in Tipton County for most of her life, she and Paul had moved to LaGrange for six years and then to Indianapolis the last two years.

Mary Joan was a homemaker and a farmer’s wife.  That may sound simple enough, but those who knew her, knew better.  She graduated valedictorian of her high school, and loved the arts, classical music, ballet, and opera.  As the 14^th child in a family of 15, she learned the importance, value, and unbreakable nature of strong family bonds.  She chose to live a life of service to God, her family, and anyone who needed a listening ear. She participated in several scripture study groups, raised a family of her own, and served with a prison outreach program at the Pendleton Correctional Facility.

Having spent dozens of weekends at the Pope John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City, Mary Joan was determined to probe and discover the nature of her inner true self. As a result, she became a woman of wisdom, insight, and spirituality. She was a former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipton, St. Joseph’s in LaGrange and was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas in Indianapolis at the time of her passing.  Gardening, traveling, playing euchre, and reading were among her favorite activities.

Mary Joan is survived by her six children, John Koors and wife Mary, Racine, Wisconsin, Kevin Koors and wife Mary, Lafayette, Steve Koors and wife Joy, Indianapolis, Mary Rice and husband Mike, Indianapolis, Maria King and husband Jeff, LaGrange, Jane Watson and husband Kevin, Indianapolis; 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  As much as Mary Joan delighted in being the mother of her six children, the 27 grandkids and great-grandkids brought an indescribable joy to her life! She is also survived by two brothers, Leo Hellmann and wife Joan, Brownsburg and Gilbert Hellman and wife Ella, Kokomo; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Hellmann, Spencer and one brother-in-law, Mo Parr, Lafayette.

Mary Joan was preceded in death by siblings, Jerry, John, Louis, Pat, Linus, Frank and Ray Hellmann, Patty Parr, Henrietta Day, Rosemary Howell, Sr. Kathryn Hellmann, and Helen Lustig.

Funeral mass for Mary Joan will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Elwood with Revs. Martin Day, David Hellmann, Wayne Hellmann and Keith Hosey presiding. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Tipton at a later date. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton with a wake service at 7:30.

Memorial contributions in Mary Joan’s honor may be made to the Building Fund at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 335 Mill Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072.