March 26, 1931 – January 20, 2024
Patti Ione Koerber, 92, died on January 20, 2024. She was born March 26, 1931, in Noblesville to Ione and Kenneth Pickett. At 18, she became Catholic, and her deep faith animated the rest of her life.
After Noblesville High School, she attended Antioch and Marian University, graduating from Marquette University. In Milwaukee, she met Leonard who shared her faith and intellectual curiosity. They were married 57 years until his death in 2015.
She reoriented her life after her first child, John, was born, becoming an advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families. She earned a master’s in special education from Indiana University and founded the Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) in 1975, expanding it into a national network, Parentele. Pat and Leonard also won a federal civil rights suit against the segregation of developmentally disabled students at IPS.
In 1980, Pat realized a long-held dream, opening a used book business, Abstract Books, in her home. She was one of the early book dealers online and the business is still in operation.
Her love of architecture, seen in her work at each family home, helped shape the new church at St. Ann’s in Indianapolis where the family became parishioners in 1989.
She was devoted to her family and is survived by her children Lisa Barks, Susannah Koerber, and Kin (Ravi) Koerber; grandchildren Caron (Tim) Phillips, Lauren (Trevor) Green, Edward Barks, Sameer and Arnav Kuber; and great-grandchildren Max, Archer, James, and Amelia.
She was preceded in death by Leonard, her son John, her sister Wanda Lee Chatel, and her brother Kenneth Kinsey “Bud” Pickett.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Flanner Buchanan Decatur Township, 5463 Kentucky Ave., Indianapolis, with the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 6350 S. Mooresville Road, Indianapolis. She will be interred at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville following her mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to St. Ann’s Building Fund, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, or Outside the Box.
To sign the online guest book and share your memories of Patti with her family please go to flannerbuchanan.com.