Catherine “Cathy” Ford
October 6, 1952 ~ November 13, 2020
Catherine A. (Avelis) Ford, 68, longtime Indianapolis resident, passed away peacefully at home November 13, 2020, after an eight-year battle with cancer. Cathy was born October 6, 1952, in Indianapolis to the late John and Helen Mary (Eckerman) Avelis.
Cathy graduated from Schulte High School in Terre Haute, IN and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Saint Mary of the Woods, IN and also earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana State University. Cathy was a proud “Woodsie” and stayed in touch with several classmates over the years and was excited two nieces followed in her footsteps to the Woods. After teaching school for five years, she moved to Indianapolis and started her 32 year dream job as courtroom deputy in the United States Bankruptcy Court under the Honorable Frank J. Otte. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime and active member of Christ the King Catholic Church for over 37 years where she participated in numerous committees. Cathy belonged to Stansfield Circle, a wonderful social service organization that provides services to senior citizens at Fletcher Place Community Center near Fountain Square.
Cathy met her husband, Joseph B. Ford, on a blind date, and they married on June 14, 1980 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Their only child and the apple of Cathy’s eye, Sara, was born in Indianapolis on September 27, 1982. Cathy’s favorite hobby was being with her three beautiful granddaughters and following their various activities. She loved traveling, doing crafts and working in her backyard community garden. Cathy is best known as, and excelled at, being a great wife, mother, daughter, Gammy, sister, in-law, aunt and friend to many. “Miss Cathy’s” backyard connected all the kids on the block. Survivors include her husband of over 40 years, Joseph B. Ford; daughter Sara Catherine (Jon) Berscheit and their children, Camryn Z. Hackney, Bailey G. Hackney and S.J. Berscheit ; siblings, John (Mary Margaret) Avelis, Edward (Deborah) Avelis, Michael (Victoria) Avelis, James (Kim) Avelis, Beth (Randall) Shaw, Patrick (Marlene) Avelis and Therese Avelis; a large extended family including Joe’s siblings and their spouses, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday November 18, 2020 from 4:00 to 8:00pm, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5884 Crittenden Avenue, Indianapolis. You will have the opportunity to pay your respects at the casket and greet the family from a distance, who will be seated in pews. Respectfully, all those attending will be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on November 19, 2020, in the church. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. For those wishing to remember Cathy from their own home, the Mass will be live-streamed by visiting https://m.facebook.com/carlislebranson. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church. Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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To Joe & Family: Cathy was such a warm, caring, thoughtful and gentle person. Eileen and I are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember her.
Were so sorry for your loss! Cathy had such a beautiful soul and touched so many peoples lives. We are thinking and praying for you all. The Bickels
I will miss you my forever friend and I will cherish all the memories of our good times. Garry and I send love and prayers to Joe, Sara (and her beautiful family), and all of the extended family. I love you girlfriend – you fought the battle with such optimism. Peace to all of you.
Joe, Sarah, and all of the Ford Family. – Our sincere sympathies! Cathy is one of the most kind hearted and strong person we know. She is loved by many and she will be missed by many. May God bless her and comfort you. Our thought and prayers are with Cathy and all you Family. Peace, Christie Akin and Brian Yust Kelly Akin and Jake Maynard Bobby and Ashley Akin Ginny and Tim Akin
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your lossour thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
You were a special person, a beautiful soul. Rest In Peace dear friend. Love you to pieces! Mary W.
Cathy always had a kind word and a smile. She made the world a better place. Many thoughts and prayers for Joe, Sara and family. Rest In peace, dear friend
Thinking of yall and wishing we could be there for Aunt Cathys send off. She was an amazing aunt with a heart of gold! Love you – Travis, Erin, B & D
Joe I am so sorry for your loss! May God look over you and your entire family! Sharea Clark
Joe, I am so sorry for your loss! Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies from our family during this difficult times. Cathy was such an amazing person, i will always remember her smile! Heena Hassan
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Joe, Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. May God give you the peace that you seek.Sincerely,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Today and always, may the beautiful and loving memories of Cathy bring the family peace, comfort and strength.
I was so very sorry to hear about Cathy’s death. I never saw Cathy without a smile, even at her hardest times! I will keep you all in my prayers!
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Your loss is heaven’s gain. What a beautiful life lived.
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
With loving memories of “Catherine Cathy Ford” John & Janet O’Neal, Monticello, Illinois
Joe, Sara, and family, My deepest condolences. Cathy was a caring, positive and strong person, and her loss is felt deeply. It was a joy working with Cathy and I will never forget the warmth her smile brought to the office each and every day. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am a classmate of Cathy’s, another fellow “Woodsie”. I enjoyed knowing and doing things with Cathy while at the St. Mary of the Woods. Seeing her at Reunions was always nice. The first word that comes to mind when I think of Cathy is , ”kind”. May Cathy rest in peace and with the love of her family. May her family find peace in her rest. Mary Clare Fox Dibb Class of 1974
With heartfelt condolences,
Dear Joe, Sara, Jon, and family – We are thinking of you and sending peace, love, and prayers. Cathys infectious smile and kind heart will be missed.
My deepest sympathy to your family for this loss. Cathy was always a great blessing to her co-workers and she has been and will continue to be missed. May she rest in peace. Lori Konermann
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, The Wegmann Family
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Joe, we are very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you.
Dear Joe, Sara, and family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
With Deepest Sympathy. Dr. Steve and Helen Ahlfeld
Somehow Cathy always found some “unique utensil” which she brought to famly gatherings. Though she affirned these items to be functional, they were so unique as to engage evryone around the table in guesses about their function, why their response could be right, and how the device would actually work. More often than not we were way off targget. We know she continued this tradition even in our absence, as when we visited her Mom, the first thing Helen Mary would do was to set device before us and ask what it was used for. Cathy always had a wonderful smile, a warm and sincere way of sharing her joy for family and friends, and a strong faith. We will always treasure her presence and friendship. Denise & Gregory Ulm
One of my favorite memories of Cathy is how much she loved celebrating holidays. On Valentine’s Day she would leave on my desk a Big Red Gum in the middle of a red heart that read “I chews you for my valentines” .
Joe, Sara and family, As the standing Chapter 13 trustee for the Bankruptcy Court from 1979 to 2015, I had many opportunities to visit Judge Otte’s court and see Kathy, working hard, working efficiently, always pleasant and professional. She would even laugh at my bad puns. I certainly was always aware of the extreme love she had for her family, e.g., when I spoke with her about Sara going away to college, I saw the tears coming! It was a joy to know her and to work so closely with her. My sincere sympathy to all of the extended Ford family.
To the Ford family, Our love and prayers are with you. Cathy meant so much to our family and she will always be in our hearts. Love, The Bickels
Joe and Sara – Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I feel so blessed to have known Cathy. She was truly an amazing person – always so kind and thoughtful. Cathy will be missed by so many. Joan Blackwell & Blackwell Family
I add my heartfelt sympathy to Mr. Ford, Sarah and your entire family on the loss of Cathy. She brought energy and enthusiasm with her to work every day and I personally admired how tactful and courageous she was. Extending my sincere condolences, Clarence Parson Falls Church, Virginia
My deepest sympathy to Joe, Sara & family. I met Cathy in Terre Haute when she was still in school and I was 21 and had just moved to Terre Haute. When she came into the office where I was working we became instant friends. Later, we both started working at Bankrupcy Court, Cathy in Indy and I in Evansville and we got to see each other again when I was in Indy for meetings. I remember one time I spent the night and Sara gave up her bed for me. I loved her so much and will miss her beautiful spirit and smile. Linda Parker, Evansville, Indiana
Joe and Sara, Cathy was one of a kind. She always had a smile on her face. With everything she was going through, she still made time for others. We would exchange text messages and cards often. I have a card on my table she sent me a month ago. Since retirement, we had a group that would meet up for Some Guys Pizza. I will cherish those memories. So much fun! Prayers are with the Ford family. Love always Marcella ߙϰߏݢݤ️
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Cathy was my workout buddy at the courthouse. She had such a light to her! Always refreshing to talk with and be around. And how she adored her girls! Her light will live on in their hearts. I’ll be lifting you all in prayer.
Peace, Prayers and Blessings,
Joe, Sara, Jon, girls and family members. As so many of the court family have shared, Cathy lit up the room with her presence and style. Dave and I had the privilege of working with and knowing Cathy since her first day at the courts. She was beautiful inside and out, yet humble. Cathy has touched more lives then most but her first and foremost love was her family and her faith. She will be remembered forever with her lessons of love and life she taught to so many. Our girl time gatherings from the courts after retirement meant so much to me. We shared the real meaning of life, love, family and friends. Cathy will be missed more then words can express and our heartfelt prayers are being sent to Joe, Sara, Jon, Camryn, Bailey, S.J. and all the family members. Peace be with you. Dave and Rita Krebs
My family was saddened by the news of Cathy’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Bernie Mcguinness
Cathy was a good childhood friend and neighbor. Her passing is such a loss to so many. My condolences to all of you.
My sincere sympathy to Joe and the children
Joe and Sara, and all Cathy’s Family and exceeded family – my heart is so heavy hearing about the passing of Cathy. Even though I didn’t know her well, she was always so warm and friendly whenever I saw her. My brother, Tim, would always speak so fondly of Cathy, saying you never will meet anyone as caring, kind, genuine, and sweet as Cathy. I know she will be missed by so many. You are all in my prayers. Rie Sylvester
she and I went to grade school @Saint Benedicts. I remember her well.
Our sincere sympathy to Cathy’s family during this time. I was a classmate of Cathy’s at SMW. and my husband went to Schulte with her. Zipp and Mike Hogan
Joe. I am so sorry to hear about Cathy. Hope you’re doing okay friend.
I met Cathy in 2002 when I was first appointed as a bankruptcy trustee. I was very much the greenhorn, having practiced law in other areas and she was always so kind to me, assisting me with procedural aspects and overlooking any errors. She was the bravest person I have ever met, accepting the fate life had dealt her with grace and fortitude. When I would send her cards she would take the time to send me a thank you for my note! She was a very classy lady and will be sorely missed.
From SMWC Class of 74