Dana Rene Baele, 34, of Indianapolis, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, after suffering a fatal head injury while horseback riding with her family in Colorado. Dana was born on July 3, 1990, in Indianapolis to Joe and Jan Baele. She attended St. Matthew Catholic School and Cathedral High School, where she participated in kickball, swimming, theatre production, and many extracurricular activities. She went on to attend Ball State University, including studying abroad in London, one of her very favorite places. After graduating from Ball State in 2013, Dana continued to live life to its fullest and began to set the world on fire, which she did with great success.
Dana quickly embedded herself in the music scene in Indy and across the country. She could always be found in the front row of the concert, singing and dancing, and the bands were just as excited to see her as she was to see them. She also served as the merchandising agent for many bands and artists, including The Karma Killers and Dave Koz, and she worked for musical promotion companies including Live Nation and MOKB Presents. It seemed Dana was always “on tour” somewhere, living her very best life.
After sewing her wild oats and fulfilling her musical and artistic passions, Dana became a flight attendant with Republic Airways, which enabled her to feed her love of travel and adventure. Being a flight attendant allowed her to see more than she ever could have dreamed. Dana loved exploring cities across the world on her own, always seeking out the hot spots, good bites to eat, and hidden gems wherever she went.
Dana’s adventurous and fun-loving spirit paled only in comparison to the love she had for her family and friends and her desire to give back. Her top priority in life was her family. She was intent on reaching out to make sure those she loved knew they were loved. Dana grew up in a family that valued philanthropy, and giving back was a way of life for the Baeles. Dana’s many empathetic and philanthropic efforts included trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, helping with cleanup so people could get back into their homes. And numerous trips to Haiti to assist wherever she was needed, including building a fence around a prayer garden, putting her theatre production background and creativity to good use.
To capture the fullness of Dana’s life and the light with which she illuminated the lives of others would be like trying to “catch a deluge in a paper cup,” as the song goes. Dana was an intelligent, well-rounded student and she had a creative passion for art and painting. Football was a favorite sport and she cheered on her beloved New Orleans Saints, while never leaving the Indianapolis Colts far behind. Her eyes sparked with a look of mischief and her heart could not have been more full of love, fun, authenticity, compassion and empathy. Her smile and belly laugh are permanently implanted in the memories of those who knew and loved her. She was unapologetically authentic, true, non-judgmental and real, which is why she was so deeply loved by all who knew and met her, even those who simply caught a glimpse of her from across the room.
Dana is survived by her mother, best friend and Yahtzee opponent Jan (Hoffman) Baele; her brothers Nicholas Baele (Megan Moorman) of Chicago and Mark Baele (Madeline) of Longmont, Colorado; and her beloved canine son, Louis Daniel Armstrong Baele, affectionally called Louie. Dana leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends across the world to cherish her memory. She was preceded in death by her loving father Dr. Joe Baele, her paternal grandparents Roger and Mary Baele, her maternal grandparents Robert and Patricia Hoffman, and her uncle Jeff Hoffman.
The Baele family would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love by those who shared text messages, phone calls, emails, and social media posts and to all who have reached out with condolences, love, and offers of help. Rest assured your love and sharing have helped lighten the load.
Visitation for Dana will be from 5-8 pm on Friday, October 11th at St. Matthew Catholic Church (56th & Binford). A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00am on Saturday, October 12th at the church. Entombment follows at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dana’s memory to The Haiti Fund at St. Matthew Catholic Church or the St. Matthew Catholic Church general fund.
Fly high, Dana, and “Shine bright, you crazy diamond.”
Online condolences available at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com
Posted online on October 08, 2024
Published in The Indianapolis Star