Mary Jo Matheny

Mary Jo Matheny was born Mary Joan Hughey to Basil Hughey and Dollie Lobraico on February 17, 1929; she said that she had brought the stock market to its knees! She succumbed to complications of COVID-19 on August 6, 2021, 34 years to the day after her husband, Bill.

Mary Jo lived in Indianapolis, Indiana. She went to Cathedral grade school and St. Agnes Academy, where she became an accomplished organist, often playing (even while in high school) for services at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Mary Jo pursued a degree in music education at St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute Indiana. She was gregarious in college, and was the Secretary of the class of 1951; she continued her duties as secretary for most of the rest of her life, faithfully sending newsletters to her classmates yearly until just a few years ago.

Mary Jo was married to William (Bill) Matheny on October 17, 1953 at the Cathedral in Indianapolis. Her six tiered wedding cake was from Taylor’s Bakery, and the church was nearly filled. Her two children, Michele and Marc, were born one and 2 ½ years later. She worked as a music educator for Indianapolis Public Schools, and later taught at her alma mater, St. Agnes Academy, where she taught music, English, French and journalism. She was an accomplished musician, and worked for decades as an organist for various Catholic churches in the Indianapolis area, where she could play, sing, and direct a choir (often simultaneously). She was known for her beautiful voice. She was often asked to play and sing at various public and private events, where her spontaneity and talent was impressive. Her rendition of “Ave Maria” was particularly memorable.

Beginning in the late 1980s, Mary Jo’s full time occupation was devoted to social justice issues and the arts. Some of her areas of intense interest and involvement included prison reform, assistance to victims of homicide, environmental protection, and support of Native American progress. She worked actively with the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, Church Women United, and was a member of the American Guild of Organists, to name a few. She faithfully attended vigils in remembrance of victims of homicide in the Indianapolis area well into her late 80’s, and usually brought a car full of other attendees with her.

Mary Jo was proud of, and loyal to her heritage, which included her mother’s Italian legacy, her father’s Scotch-Irish, and a smidgen of Native American. She was known as a great cook and she loved to entertain.

Mary Jo was intense, artistic, quirky and truly unique. She will be missed by her children Michele Matheny (Jim) Catellier and their children Genevieve (“Genny”) and Kathryn (“Katie”), and Marc Matheny and his children Ann Marie and Alison.

A visitation for Mary Jo will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St Andrew the Apostle Church, 4052 E 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218, followed by a mass of christian burial at 11:00 AM.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers would be appreciated for the Lobraico Family Scholarship fund at Butler University School of Pharmacy, The Native American Heritage Association, The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, or the Environmental Protection Agency.