Bessie Mae Ploeger

Our mom, Bessie Mae Ploeger, née Sebastian, was born into eternal life on Sunday evening, May 31, 2020. Bessie was born May 21, 1941, the eleventh of fourteen children, to Shelby and Mima Sebastian in Hamilton, OH. As a young girl, her family moved to the Clarksburg, IN area where she enjoyed her time growing up on the farm. She excelled in her studies and graduated from Clarksburg High School in 1959; going to work at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis. Bessie married her high school sweetheart Ronald Ploeger, in the St. Maurice Catholic Church, St. Maurice, Indiana on May 21, 1960. Bessie was a loving wife, for Ronald, and mother to her 13 children.

Throughout her life, Bessie was instrumental in the founding of the Decatur County Girls Softball league, the North Decatur Adult Booster Club, and the North Decatur After Prom. If mom was not to be found in the stands cheering on her children in all seasons, she was likely keeping book for the game, as she did for many seasons. She continued cheering, and was their greatest fan, for her grandchildren and great grandchildren as they began to participate in their own activities. Where she saw a need, she often found and created a solution. She, along with her aunt, decorated the Christmas tree for the children at Decatur County Memorial Hospital through one of her organizations. Mom was an active member of the Night Club with the Decatur County Extension Homemakers, the Daughters of Isabella Greensburg Circle, and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.

Our parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this month with many family and friends sending cards. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers: Ed, Charlie, Ervine and Donnie Sebastian; one sister, Chloie Swinford, and one grandchild, Benjamin Austin Ploeger. She is survived by her loving husband, Ronald, and adoring daughters: Lisa (John) Hughes, Sue Ploeger, Cathy (Gale) Fogle, all of Greensburg and Laurie (Brian) Nicholson of Burke, Virginia and her loving sons: Michael, of Batesville, Brian (Barb), John (Wanda), Richard (Linda), all of Greensburg, Chris (Amy) of Rushville, Anthony (Christy) of Greensburg, Kevin of Cincinnati, OH, Matthew (Lynn) of Clayton, IN and James (Brandy) of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Bessie is also survived by 29 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers: Adrian and Dan Sebastian, and six sisters: Mary Allen, Mickie Bechtold, Nola Peters, Sandra Adams, Lina Jolliffe, and Sylvia England.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm observing CDC precautions at Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home.

A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, June 5, 2020 at 10:00 am at St. Catherine of Siena, St. Maurice with Rev. Bill Ehalt officiating.  The Church will only be at half capacity, and overflow will be able to watch the mass in the Hall next to the church.

Burial will follow at St. Maurice Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Decatur County Hospice or Sisters of St. Francis .