Patricia L. Kelm

Patricia L. Kelm, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Pat—well, where do we even begin? Beneath her polite housewife exterior was a fierce competitor, a lifelong advocate for public education, and the most passionate champion of libraries you’d ever meet. She worked at the library for years (20+ years, but honestly, she never really retired from it in spirit) and made it her mission to spread the good word about the importance of supporting your local branch. She even founded and ran the Osolo Branch Library Book Club, ensuring that no reader was left behind.

In fact, this writer would like to take a brief moment to remind you to go get a library card if you don’t already have one. Pat would insist.

Beyond her love of books and knowledge, Pat was an adventurer. She and her merry band of travel companions spent decades wandering the globe, from the vineyards of Burgundy, France, to the historic streets of Malta. If there was a plane to catch or a new place to explore, Pat was ready with her suitcase and an itinerary.

Back at home, Pat kept her mind sharp and her social calendar full. She was a dedicated bridge player, active in at least two groups, and a member of Four Arts, where she served as secretary for two years. She made monthly visits to the History Museum in South Bend, played Mahjong, and even took up Tai Chi—becoming skilled enough to help lead classes until COVID put those lessons on pause. And if you wanted to find her in the winter months, you wouldn’t have to look far—she’d be courtside (or at least glued to her TV) cheering on Notre Dame women’s basketball, her team of choice.

Most of all, Pat loved her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, James R. Kelm, her three children: Brian (Tracy) Kelm, Sheila (Kyrt) Hackman, Craig Kelm; her two sisters: Eileen (Russ) Zimmerman and Dorisanne (Bob) Weitermann; four grandchildren: Whitney (David) Gingerich, Morgan (Jerod) Stevenson, McKenzie Kelm, and Eric Kelm; and five great-grandchildren: Cash, Ben, Jaymes, Wrig, and Ainsley—all of whom will forever cherish her wisdom, her wit, and her unwavering love.

And we can’t forget about Marlene, her Scottish ride-or-die and co-conspirator in countless adventures and mischiefs.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents Helen and Joseph Sennott, sister Sheila Cali, and her brothers, Joe and Mike Sennott.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12pm on Friday, March 14, 2025 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1108 S. Main Street, Elkhart, IN 46516 where visitation will be from 10am to 12pm. Fr. Craig Borchard will be officiating. Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 is assisting the Kelm family. Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com

In honor of Pat’s legacy, please support your local library, pick up a book, play a competitive game of bridge, or plan an adventure—she would have wanted nothing less.