Agnes Nedeff

105 years ago, the 19th Amendment was ratified giving women the right to vote. That same day, Agnes Smith was born to Rufine and Mary Smith in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Agnes was the first born, with three siblings following: Helen (Kieffer), George, and Marjory (Weber). Agnes attended grade school and most of her senior year of high school in Lawrenceville before the family relocated to Mount Carmel, Illinois. She moved to Indianapolis after high school graduation.

Agnes met James Nedeff at the servicemen's club in Indianapolis during World War 2 stationed at Camp Atterbury. Jim and Agnes continued dating while he attended Indiana University and Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis (IU McKinney). They married at Holy Cross Catholic Church and Jim opened his law office on New York Street with Agnes running the office. Jim died in 1974.

Agnes was a long-time member of Holy Cross and Little Flower Catholic parishes. She most recently attended Immaculate Heart Catholic Church. She served on the East Deanery of the Archdiocesan School Board for many years.

Agnes' longevity and good health can be attributed to a positive attitude and remaining physically and mentally active. The three pillars of her diet were Pepsi, butter, and any kind of sweets. She had a flexible attitude and never sweated the small stuff. She appreciated the every individual is complex and she always focused on the good in people. Her resilience allowed her to deal with all the change and crises she witnessed over the last 105 years. Whenever personal or world affairs presented a challenge, she would shrug and tell you she had seen something similar or worse before and had always come out fine on the other side.

Agnes is survived by her daughter, Novella, her sister Marjorie Weber, many nieces, nephews, and loyal family friends.

A calling will be held Tuesday, March 3rd from 10 a.m. to noon at Little Flower Catholic Church, 13th and Bosart, Indianapolis. A funeral Mass will begin at noon.