Catherine Anne Jorczak Vendl, 69, of Indianapolis, formerly of North Judson, Ind., died Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 9:20 p.m. at Franciscan Hospital in Indianapolis due to complications from COVID-19, peacefully surrounded by loved ones via video conference.
Born on April 20, 1951 in Chicago, she was the daughter of Edwin and Eleanore Muldoon Jorczak. On Aug. 26, 1972 in North Judson she married the love of her life, Dennis Lee Vendl. He preceded her in death on Dec. 2 2018.
Cathy graduated from North Judson-San Pierre High School in 1969, where she played clarinet in the school band. She worked as a bookkeeper for her Dad at Town & Country Motors in Toto while in high school and college. Cathy attended Indiana State University before transferring to Holy Cross School of Nursing in Notre Dame, Ind. She also pursued her BSN at Bethel College in South Bend. She worked for many years as a nurse at Little Company of Mary in San Pierre, Our Lady of Holy Cross and at a nursing home in Winamac.
Cathy was a devout Catholic. She made her first communion on May 3, 1959 at SS Cyril & Methodious Catholic Church in North Judson and was confirmed there on Oct. 10, 1961. Cathy faithfully prayed her Rosary through Game 7 of the 2016 World Series for the Chicago Cubs and was ecstatic when their 108-year national championship drought ended. She was also an avid Chicago Bulls fan during the Michael Jordan era. Cathy also loved Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, whom she nicknamed “tinfoil.”
Cathy was known for her beautiful Christmas decorations, and her gorgeous trees brought joy to every celebration. She also loved taking care of her flower gardens and the grounds around her home. Cathy enjoyed her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 suns and loved her dogs and all of the creatures in the woods. She also had a quick wit, enjoyed sarcasm and loved a good joke. She was a loving mother, sister and friend and will be missed.
Survivors include a son, Dennis Vendl, II (Angie) of Fort Wayne; a daughter Anne Francis Decker of Indianapolis; two granddaughters: Lilly Rose Vendl and Ellie Catherine Nicole Randall; a grandson: Andrew Walter Lee Randall; two brothers: John Stephen (Sandee) Jorczak of Lafayette and Thomas (Sherry) Jorczak of North Judson; a sister, Mary Beth Jorczak (Gary Grube) of Rochester; a sister-in-law, Patricia Jorczak of Brooklyn, NY; a brother-in-law, Larry Vendl of San Pierre; two nieces: Jennifer Jorczak (Barbara Jordan) of Brooklyn, NY and Megan (John) Simmons of South Bend; eight nephews: Tommy (Adrianne) Jorczak of Valparaiso, Nick “Nicky” (Sarah) Jorczak of Plymouth, Minn., Tim (Jamie) Jorczak of Normal, Ill., Ed (Betsy) Jorczak of Woodstock, Ga., Robert (Christin) Jorczak of Noblesville, John Brendan (Masha) Arzola of Tempe, Ariz., Julian Michael Arzola of Rochester and Nick Arzola of South Bend. She is also survived by cousins Marcella Garson of Chicago, Sharon Garson Glass of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Veronica (Josh) Tortorello and her close friend Cindy Kobach of Phoenix, Ariz., along with honorary family member Mary Perren of North Judson.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her son-in-law Christopher Randall of Indianapolis; sister-in-law Patricia Vendl of Chesterton; cousin Robert Gee of Chicago and several other family members.
A visitation will take place Thursday, May 21 from 1-3 p.m. EDT at Lauck & Veldhof Funeral & Cremation Services, Indianapolis
Online condolences may be left at www.lauckfuneralhome.com.
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