Mary Eileen (Schmitt) Martin Heferle Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mary Eileen (Schmitt) Martin Heferle, 99, of Toledo OH, died April 11, 2021. She was born June 10, 1921, in Sandusky OH and was the daughter of Joseph and Beatrice (Schoen) Schmitt. Mary was renowned for her joy, energy, humor, thirst for knowledge and passion for living. As a young WWII widow with a small child, she moved back to her room in the family house on Castlewood Drive, where the Schmitt Family had moved in 1926, and worked at Willys Overland. After the war, she met and married Richard Heferle. They would build a new home two lots down from her family home, raise two more children, and live a happy life until Richard’s death in 1997. Mary would continue to live on Castlewood until a few years ago, keeping an eye on the neighborhood, particularly the Gensler pool parties next door. She was proud to be the longest-serving member of The Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church parish…90+ years! (“I’ve become a pillar!”) She had a fervent and lifelong devotion to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus. She was a voracious reader, a great lover of music and dance competition programs, an aggressive supporter of the Home Shopping Network, and a regular at the return counters at most area department stores. (She cherished her right to change her mind.) She adored jewelry…genuine or otherwise…and enjoyed her regular salon appointments with Sue (hair) and Lisa (nails). Some of her favorite days were filled with blissful hours at the family cottage on Vineyard Lake in Brooklyn MI, visiting her grandchildren in Ohio and Minnesota, cheering on high school and college sporting events, making birthday cakes and amazing lemon meringue pies, and admiring the beautiful roses and other flowers which grew around her home. She will be deeply missed and remembered by all as a lovely lady who lived a lovely life. She is survived by her loving children, James O. Martin, III (Drew Jansen), Thomas Heferle (Kathleen Smith), and Nancy Zimmerman (James Jr.); by her grandchildren, James O. Martin, IV (Holly Amundson), Nora Martin, Aaron Martin, James Zimmerman, III (Erica), and Mary Zimmerman; by a sweet bunch of great-grandchildren; (and even one great-great granddaughter!); and by special nephew, Mike Schmitt; long-time neighbors, Debby and Randy Gensler; friends, Jim and Dee Noah; and countless other family and friends around the country. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, James O. Martin, Jr. and Richard Heferle; and by brothers, Reginald (Marge), John (Rae), Michael (Jean) and Robert (Jeanette) and sisters, Dorothy Gedert (Ray), Marjorie Kerste (Ken), Veronica Stemple (Jack), Beatrice Antener (Gaylord), Lizzette King (Edward) and Rita, also known as Sr. Mary Michel, SND. Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, April 23, from 3-7 p.m. at the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, (between Secor and Douglas Roads), where the rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Due to COVID-19 facial coverings and social distancing will be required. Visitation will also be held on Saturday, April 24, at 10 a.m. at the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2240 Castlewood Drive, Toledo, followed by the celebration of the Mass at 11 a.m.. To view a livestream of the service, CLICK HERE. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Toledo. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the caregivers at Flower Hospital.

Mary Eileen (Schmitt) Martin Heferle

June 10, 1921 - April 11, 2021