Loretta K. Dodd, age 80 and a lifelong resident of Elwood, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at her home following a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born May 13, 1938 in Elwood, the daughter of Martin and Eileen (Samuels) Jarvis.  Loretta was a 1956 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School, and she remained active in the alumni and reunion committee for her class throughout her life.  Loretta was and accomplished pianist, and was the organist and choir director at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood for 17 years and organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cicero for 15 years.  She also formerly worked as a bookkeeper for several local companies.  Loretta married her soulmate, James H. Dodd, on June 27, 1986, and they shared 32 years of marriage together.  Loretta began playing the piano and several other instruments at the age of 7 and continued through high school.  Later in life, she continued learning piano technique alongside Catherine Bell-Lough.  She played piano and organ for countless local weddings and funerals.  Loretta was extremely artistic; loved all types of music – especially Jazz and Big Band music; and she never missed an opportunity to dance.

Loretta was a devoted member of St. Joseph Church in Elwood; a founding member of the Elwood Historical Preservation Group; and member of the Elwood Kiwanis Club where she served numerous terms as the club secretary.  She was also active in the Elwood Elks Lodge with her husband, Jim.  Loretta loved genealogy and reading, and spent 15 years working on her own family's history as well as helping build the genealogy department at the Elwood Public Library and establishing a local obituary database in the Indiana Room at the library.  She and Jim enjoyed working with their vegetable and flower gardens each summer and canning her own recipe of hot salsa each year.  More than anything, Loretta loved spending time with her family and grandchildren, and she especially enjoyed traveling with her family, classmates, and friends.  Loretta reminds her family and friends to keep a song in their heart and always be ready to dance.

Loretta's family legacy includes her loving husband, James H. "Jim" Dodd of Elwood; 3 children, Greg (wife Sharon) Werline of Anderson, David Werline (companion Christy McCool) both of Elwood, and Mary Kathryn (husband Randy) King of Elwood; 5 grandchildren, Kimberly (husband Patrick) Gerhart, Garrett (wife Ashley) Helpling, Daysha Helpling, Kara Werline, and Noah Werline; step-granddaughter, Zara Anderson; great-granddaughter, Sophia Helpling; and 4 nephews.  She was preceded in death by both of her parents; 2 sisters, Karen Noble and Marsha Doan; brother, Michael Kent Jarvis (who served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam); brother-in-law, Robert Doan; and niece, Tammy Noble.

A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 2:30 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood with Father Dan Duff officiating.  Burial will take place privately at the K. of P. – I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Frankton.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesday at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood prior to the funeral mass.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Elwood High School Band Department through the funeral home.  Online condolences may be expressed at copherfeslermay.com.