Mary Kathleen Fleming, "Kathy" of the Indianapolis area has entered into eternal rest at the age of 86 while residing for the past year at St. Mary of the Woods, Terre Haute, Indiana.

Born March 5, 1938, in Indianapolis to Mary Therese Traub Fleming and Thomas Gable Fleming, she lived in Woodstock, Virgina a part of her childhood but returned to Indianapolis and graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1956.  For nineteen years she was a member of the Sisters of Providence at St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, Terre Haute, Indiana where she completed her undergraduate studies in elementary education.  While at the Woods and known as Sr. Melanie, Kathy developed her lifelong devotion to St. Mother Theodore Geurin and began a long and fulfilling career as a teacher and administrator across Central Indiana and California. Her devotion to children was demonstrated at St. Anthony, Gardena, CA, St. Mary's, Richmond IN: St. Simon Indianapolis; Holy Spirit, Indianapolis; St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington, IN; St Joan of Arc, Indianapolis; and Our Lady of the Greenwood from which she retired in 2003.

Kathy was a devoted friend to many and served her community as an instructor for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at Holy Spirit parish, was a board member and secretary of Mathematics Pentathlon, contributed to multiple committees of the Archdiocese Office of Education and many other professional organizations. Following her retirement, she continued her leadership as a full-time volunteer to the Sisters of Providence to promote the cause of St. Mother Theodore Guerin culminating with her witness to the canonization in Rome in 2006.  This was truly a lifelong desire fulfilled for Kathy, as well as her Providence associates and community.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather Dr. John M. Nohl, her brothers Thomas Gable (Tim) and Daniel Mahrt Fleming, her sisters Mary Beatrice Focke and Mary Joanne Blacklidge.  She is survived by her brothers Michael E. Fleming (Bambi) and Dr. John P. Fleming (Barbara), brother-in-law David R. Blacklidge, devoted nephew Richard A. Blacklidge and his partner Steven Johnson, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.

Visitation at St. Mary of the Woods will begin at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday May 7, 2024, at 9:00 AM followed by Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00 AM.  A live stream of the Mass will be available at https://livestream.com/accounts/4387581/events/11142687.

For her Indianapolis family and friends on Wednesday May 8, 2024, there will be an hour of visitation followed by Mass at Noon in the Calvary Cemetery Chapel, 435 W. Troy, Indianapolis. Burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers Kathy requested donations be directed to the Sisters of Providence . Care was entrusted to DeBaun Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.