Patty Jean (Cordell) Williams-Mayes

“Nana”

July 15, 1949 – September 28, 2026

Patty Jean (Cordell) Williams-Mayes, lovingly known as “Nana,” was 77 years old. A born Hoosier, she called Indianapolis home throughout her life.

On Monday, September 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., the angels came to take her home to be with the Lord in Paradise. Patty passed away in Indianapolis from complications of an extended illness.

Patty was born on July 15, 1949, to Richard E. Cordell and Jean Emerick, both of Indianapolis. She grew up with one older brother and three younger sisters. She began her education at Saint Andrews Catholic Grade School and attended Bishop Chatard High School, graduating in 1967. Later in life, she attended Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for some course studies.

Patty’s faith in our Lord began at a young age when she received the sacraments. She developed a strong relationship with the Lord and became a vessel for His love, revealing through her daily life the importance of love and kindness.

Patty loved her family deeply, especially her dad, who worked hard for his family. She prayed for an opportunity to give him a break and take him somewhere on vacation. That prayer changed the entire family and the course of their lives.

One day, Patty came home from a Girl Scout meeting and asked her dad, “Daddy, why can’t we go camping?” He replied, “I don’t know. Why not?” From then on, the family camped all over the state. Patty and her brother hiked just about every trail in Indiana. The family continued camping for the rest of their lives, eventually doing so in an RV.

Patty took what she learned as a Girl Scout and passed it on to her daughter and other girls, becoming a Girl Scout leader for her daughter and her friends. Her daughter has since continued that Girl Scout legacy by passing it on to her own daughter and other girls.

Before Patty retired, someone asked her what her favorite job had ever been. Her reply was, “Being a mother to my daughter and teaching her, especially, love and kindness toward others.”

Patty also felt called to counsel young girls through the crisis pregnancy center in Indianapolis. She passed this legacy on to her daughter, who also volunteered at the crisis pregnancy center.

She was active with the youth at whichever church her husband and daughter attended.

Patty learned to sew at a young age and even made her own wedding dress. She passed this knowledge and skill on to her daughter and to anyone else who wanted to learn. Patty always felt that sewing was a lost art.

After her daughter started school, Patty worked as a secretary for two different companies.

Patty was very crafty and wanted others to enjoy crafting as well. She took a job with Creative Expressions, a home-party sales company, where she visited homes to sell and educate people about stitchery crafts. She later worked for two ladies who owned an embroidery business called Sew Unique. If you have an old IU sweatshirt or jacket, Patty probably put the patches on it, along with countless other patches and embroidered items.

Patty loved working in jobs that allowed her to serve others. For a short time, she worked as a waitress at a pancake house. On her first day, her boss explained that they were very short-staffed and asked whether she could help by waiting tables, even though she had no training.

At the end of the shift, her boss could not believe Patty had never waited tables before. Patty explained, “I just treat people the way I want to be treated when I go out to eat.”

She was eventually persuaded to apply for a job at AAA, where she worked for 11 years, earning several awards for sales and customer service. Someone once jokingly told her, “You have the best job. You get to tell people where to go.”

In her late teens to early twenties, Patty married Alton David Williams. Together, they had her pride and joy, her daughter, Jennifer. Patty called her Jen, but to Patty, she was simply “Sugar,” a loving term of endearment.

Patty and Dave were married for approximately 27 years before deciding to remain somewhat friends.

Patty’s life was not easy by any stretch. At the age of 13, she underwent surgery for scoliosis and spent almost a year in a body cast.

When Patty was 18, she learned that her birth mother and father had separated when she and her brother were little. She also learned that the woman she had always called Mom was still her mom, just not her birth mother. Through this discovery, Patty learned that her birth mother had other children, all boys, whom she would later meet at her birth mother’s funeral.

Before her marriage to Alton David, Patty was dating when one date did not go as she had planned. She became pregnant and hurried away to keep her pregnancy unknown. True to her character, she made the difficult decision to place her son for adoption with a loving family.

She later learned that he had an adopted sister, had enjoyed a wonderful young life, and had married a woman who had also been adopted. Together, they adopted two children of their own. Although Patty knew that she had done the best she could for him, she also knew that her decision had helped change six people's lives for the better.

On Mother's Day in May 1994, Patty went on a date with a woman whom a mutual friend had introduced to her.

The first part of their date was attending church at All Saints Episcopal Church, where Patty had been worshipping. The church accepted her lifestyle and was close to her Catholic roots. Patty and Chris shared a loving relationship and marriage for 32 years, until Patty's passing on September 28, 2026.

Patty experienced several health scares throughout her life. In 1995, she developed breast cancer and endured difficult treatments. Despite everything she went through, she remained the same positive Patty, returning to her job and daily life while receiving treatment.

Life was good, and her daughter, Jen, married a wonderful man from Sweden, Frederick. Soon, the whole family was blessed with the birth of two children, Bee and Alex, whom Patty adored.

Patty also experienced other heart-related health concerns. Around 2015, her breast cancer returned, requiring a complete mastectomy. She seemed to recover, but things still were not right. She was treated for depression for an extended period until further testing revealed that she had developed a brain bleed at some point. The bleed had repaired itself, but she had also developed vascular dementia.

These challenges did not change much of Patty’s character. She continued to face whatever life threw at her, relying on the Lord for everything and praising God at all times, even during difficult moments, trusting that He would take care of her.

Patty was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2018, and her family slowly began to experience her declining cognitive abilities. They were all blessed to be able to care for her. No matter how difficult things became in her mind or in her life, she never lost the love and kindness that defined her.

The family was blessed to have two home-care companies that sent truly wonderful women to provide care for Patty at home, along with a senior day care center during the day.

Even through her illness, Patty continued to provide entertainment for those around her, putting things on her head and being silly. If you were kind to her, she would take your hand and kiss it.

Patty's favorite hymns were:

• - “Amazing Grace”

• - “Our God Is an Awesome God”

She loved her faith music.

Patty is survived by her loving wife of 32 years, Chris Mayes of Indianapolis.

She is also survived by:

• Daughter: Jennifer “Jen” (Williams) Skarstedt, and her spouse, Frederick Skarstedt, of Indianapolis.

• Grandchildren: Bee and Alex of Indianapolis.

• Stepdaughter: Sara Prugh, and step-granddaughter, Savanna, both of Pennsylvania.

• Brother: Dale Cordell and spouse of Iowa.

• Sister: Barbara Fortner; nieces Ellena and Missy; nephew Craig; and their families, all of Alabama.

• Sister: Linda Wilson and niece Angie of Alabama.

• Niece: Christie (Sieb) Stinnette, her spouse, and family of Indianapolis.

• Nephews: Ed Sieb, John Sieb, Matt Sieb, and Micheal Sieb, along with their spouses and families, all of Indianapolis.

• Brothers: Paul and spouse, Daniel and spouse, Jerry, and Monte, all of Tennessee.

• Sister: Janette of Tennessee.

• Mother-in-law: Sylvia Prugh of Pennsylvania.

• Brothers-in-law: Vince Mayes and Kenny of Pennsylvania.

• Sister-in-law: Julie Latchaw and Barry of Pennsylvania.

• Several other nieces and nephews.

Patty was preceded in death by her father, Richard E. Cordell; Beth (Buela) Cordell; her mother, Jean Emerick; her sister, Norma Sieb and her spouse, Ed Sieb; her niece, Lisa Sieb; and her brother-in-law, Greg Mayes.

We would like to express our gratitude to the following people and organizations who provided Patty with so much wonderful, loving care over the past several years:

• - Volunteer Ava

• - All the staff at Sarah Care Day Senior Center

• - Senior Helpers Home Care, including all the office staff and aides Mandi and Iyanna

• - Team Select Home Care, including all the office staff and aides Riley and Astin

• - Adoration Hospice, including Tracy, Chaplain James, RN Christy, the two social workers on her case, and all the aides who came to help with baths.

Patty loved you all. She probably thanked you with a kiss on the hand.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patty’s name to any of the following:

• - All Saints Episcopal Church at 16th and Central

• - Indy Gay Youth

• - Indianapolis Crisis Pregnancy Center

• - American Breast Cancer Organization

• - Indianapolis Alzheimer's and Dementia Organization

Patty’s legacy of faith, love, and kindness will carry on in our hearts and minds through our actions.

Rest in peace, my love, always and forever.