Kathleen "Kathy" A. (Kelly) Milch

Kathleen “Kathy” (Kelly) Milch

May 2, 1946 – May 12, 2026

Kathleen “Kathy” (Kelly) Milch — beloved mother, sister, aunt, friend, and lifelong lover of laughter, books, movies, and family — passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026, just 10 days after celebrating her 80th birthday.

Kathy was born on May 2, 1946, to Edward (“Ed”) and Genevieve (“Jean”) Kelly in the Harbor neighborhood of East Chicago, Indiana. She graduated from St. Patrick’s Grade School in 1960 and from East Chicago Washington High School with the Class of 1964.

Kathy built a career marked by dedication, intelligence, and warmth, beginning as an X-ray technician at the Jones Clinic and the Whiting Clinic. She later worked at Calumet College of St. Joseph, the University of Notre Dame’s Chicago campus, and the law firm of Cohn & Baughman before retiring in 2012.

More than anything, Kathy will be remembered for the joy she brought into every room. Her laugh was unforgettable, her sense of humor unmatched, and those lucky enough to know her will forever remember her warmth, smile, and kindness. She had a deep love of books and classic movies, could beat almost anyone at movie trivia, and could complete a crossword puzzle in pen in record time. She always had stories to tell about the Kelly sisters’ adventures, and her family loved hearing every one of them.

Kathy loved watching the TV show Law & Order — often with it playing nearly around the clock — and she seemed to have a sixth sense for predicting Oscar winners. She also held an unwavering devotion to Tom Selleck. Some of her happiest moments were the simple ones: surprise visits from her children and family, especially when they arrived with treats from DQ, Dunkin’, or Culver’s.

Most of all, Kathy will be remembered for her ability to connect with anyone she met, her fierce loyalty to her friends, and her endless and unconditional love for her family. She was not only a devoted mother to her own children, but over the years became a second mom to dozens of neighborhood kids as well. She had a way of making people feel welcome, understood, and loved, and that gift stayed with everyone who knew her.

Kathy is survived by her loving children, John Milch, Melissa (Peter) Arredondo, and Stacey (Derek) Monks; her beloved sisters, Pat (Ron) Vana and Tess Dybel; her niece, Natalie (Tracy) Bevil; her great-nephew, Brock Bevil; her great-niece, Reese Bevil; many cherished cousins whom she loved dearly; and her treasured “Club” friends, Bonnie Kulig and Patty Jurik. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Kathy’s laughter, wit, stories, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 28, at Fife Funeral Home, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, Indiana from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rev. Terry Steffens will have a prayer service at 5:00 pm at the funeral home on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To share an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen "Kathy" A. (Kelly) Milch, please visit our floral store.