13 things about Detroit, Michigan native Mary Lou Heleringer

Mary Lou O’Donnell Heleringer was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The city is around 220 miles away from South Bend, Indiana, USA.

Established in Bertrand, Michigan in 1844, Saint Mary’s College moved to South Bend in 1945. It later moved to Notre Dame, Indiana.

BIOGRAPHY

Heleringer was Catholic. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She and her husband Robert Carl Heleringer Sr. were residents of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
2. Her father Leo George O’Donnell was born in Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA to John Henry O’Donnell and Mary T. Hurley O’Donnell.
3. Her mother Fidelis M. Fogarty O’Donnell was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA to John Fogarty and Mary Eliza “Minnie” Tardiff Klahs, who married Frank Klahs.
4. She graduated from St. Mary’s College in South Bend.
5. A member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, she owned, bred and raced thoroughbreds.
6. She and Robert Sr. were preceded in death by their son Joseph Fleming Heleringer.
7. Aside from Joseph, she and Robert Sr. have five other children namely Robert L. “Bob” Heleringer Jr., Margaret Heleringer Healy, Nancy Heleringer Wachs, Mary Grace Heleringer Westman and Diane Heleringer Cashen.
8. She was three years older than her sister Helen Fogarty O’Donnell Green.
9. In 1950, she married Robert Sr., who was born in New Albany Township, Indiana to Amedee Mathias Heleringer and Margaret Cecilia Holtz Heleringer.
10. As a Republican lawmaker, her son Bob represented portions of Louisville from 1980 to 2003.
11. In 1988, her sister Helen died.
12. In 1993, her father died.
13. In 2003, he died at age 76.

TIMELINE

Mary Lou’s husband Robert Sr. was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps. He attended the University of Louisville in Louisville.

1950s

• On May 14, 1951, she gave birth to Bob in Louisville.
• On July 8, 1957, she gave birth to Mary Grace.
• On September 21, 1957, her grandmother Minnie turned 79.
• On May 31, 1957, her grandmother Minnie died in Louisville.

1960s

• On March 13, 1864, her father-in-law Amedee turned 66.
• On December 9, 1964, her father-in-law Amedee died in Louisville.

1980s

• On May 16, 1988, her sister Helen turned 58.
• On December 3, 1988, her sister Helen died of cancer in East Hampton, New York, USA.

1990s

• On February 18, 1991, her mother-in-law turned 89.
• On December 20, 1991, her mother-in-law died in Louisville.
• On November 8, 1992, her father turned 96.
• On July 31, 1993, her father died in Louisville.

2000s

• On June 17, 2002, her daughter Mary Grace and James Westman‘s son Robert Paul “Bobby” Westman was born.
• On October 9, 2003, she turned 76.
• On January 13, 2004, she died.
• On January 17, 2004, her funeral mass was held at
  St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church in Louisville.
• On May 22, 2005, her mother-in-law turned 99.
• On July 24, 2005, his mother died in Louisville.

2010s

• On September 3, 2015, her brother-in-law John Joseph “Duke” Heleringer turned 83.
• On June 13, 2016, her brother-in-law Duke died in Louisville.

2020s

• On January 15, 2020, her grandson Bobby’s petition to change his name to Robin was legally granted.
• Just before 8:30 a.m. on August 27, 2025, her grandson Robin opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, killing two students and wounding more than 17 other people, then fatally shot himself.