JoAnn Trausch

Josephine Ann “JoAnn” Trausch, 100, of Indianapolis, died peacefully on May 22, 2026 at Marquette Manor. JoAnn’s life spanned over a century, during which she was our family’s beloved matriarch.

Born on August 5, 1925 in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, JoAnn was the daughter of Mildred and James Dally. She spent most of her childhood in Chicago and met Harry Trausch the summer of 1945. They married in 1948, moved to Indianapolis to raise their family, and celebrated 70 years of marriage shortly before his death in 2018. JoAnn was also preceded in death by her beloved son Michael.

JoAnn is survived by her children Stephanie Lorton (Robert), Julie Monahan (Grant), Mark (Kenitra), and Mildred "Mimsie" O’Hara (Andrew), her twelve grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson.

While young, JoAnn lived for a time in Elwood City and in Dunkirk, Indiana with her beloved Aunt Kate, and while living in Chicago regularly visited Ellwood City during the summer. During the Second World War, JoAnn worked as a typist for the US Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks, and later for Round the Clock Hosiery, but her real career was as a mother and grandmother. She was profoundly dedicated to her children, and their children, and spent countless years raising, hosting, cooking, traveling with, and taking care of each of them. She loved her nieces and nephew dearly, and her sisters-in-law were as sisters to her, as were her Ellwood City cousins Mudge and Betty Ann.

She will be remembered by her family and friends for her magnificent hospitality. Friends of her children remarked how welcome they felt in her home and they knew how important their friendship to her children was to her. Her mind was sharp until the very end, kept in fine form by decades of bridge at Meridian Hills Country Club and Marquette Manor. JoAnn knew that if a thing was worth doing, it was worth doing well, and one could be assured of a loving but firm reminder of the family's standards if they appeared to be slipping in deportment, attire, or the relative recency and frequency of telephone calls.

JoAnn was incredibly well-cared for by the dedicated team at Marquette, including Esther, Catherine, Melissa, Margie, Maria, Cora Lou, and Amanda, Felicia, Kay, and Linda.

JoAnn was a Founding Member of Devon Country Club, a Past President of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Guild, and a Past President of the Crossroads Rehabilitation Women’s Guild. A devoted Catholic, she was an active parishioner at St. Matthew's, St. Andrew's, and St. Luke's parishes over the course of her life.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 1 from 10 to 11 am at the Chapel at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, 9001 Haverstick Road, Indianapolis, IN 46240, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow immediately at 11.

In JoAnn's memory, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation to support the Jack Bradley Williams Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Donations can be made online at give.stvincent.org/jackbradleysteam, or sent to the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, 8402 Harcourt Rd. Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46260.

Memorial contributions can also be made to the Boulevard Place St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, 4202 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208.