Mary Lou Wilhelm

Mary Lou Wilhelm 89, of Perrysburg, OH passed away on May 22, 2024. Born Mary Louise Angevine on September 23, 1934 to Louis and Margaret (Welsh) Angevine in Toledo, OH, she began her role of “caregiver” early on, defining her greatest talent: to nurture and care for everyone around her. Losing her own mother to cancer when she was only 11 years old, she took over the household, cooking, cleaning and caring for her father Louis. After graduating from Central Catholic High school in 1952, she worked briefly for Ohio Bell as a telephone operator before meeting the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” A. Wilhelm.

Mary Lou and Jerry married in Toledo in 1955 and raised 3 children: Becky, Todd and Scott. Every mother cares for her children, however, Mary Lou rose to meet special challenges - it was apparent early on that Todd was a special needs child with developmental disabilities, who would require a lifetime of support. He was enrolled at Larc Lane School for children with developmental disabilities, where Mary Lou volunteered in the classrooms and ultimately became an officer of the Larc Lane Mother’s Club. She offered her time and energy to dances, bowling leagues, and the Ohio Special Olympics. Her guiding hand helped Todd and countless other members of the Toledo community with disabilities find joy and companionship in this environment.

Recognized for her talent, boundless energy, and limitless compassion for the Developmental Disability community, Mary Lou was asked to join the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCDD) Parental Advocate and Advisory Council. She was one of the first parents invited to the Ohio State Legislature to provide testimony on behalf of the LCDD and helped shape Ohio Revised Code 5123.62, defining the rights of persons with developmental disabilities. She served as an Officer on the LCDD Board from 1998-2009. She was formally recognized for more than 40 years of service to the Toledo ARC (Association of Retarded citizens) and the LCDD Board when she received the 2013 Annual Spirit Award, recognizing an individual who has given a “lifetime of volunteer service to persons with developmental disabilities.” This award emphasized that she not only spent her life volunteering, but that she was a “Volunteer Leader”.

Mary Lou was truly the Matriarch of her family. She looked after Jerry and Todd in her home for more than 60 years. She and Becky looked and acted more like sisters than mother/daughter; their laughter and smiles together were infectious. She supported her son Scott on his way to becoming a surgeon. Her son-in-law James Parrish was another son (“Skip the ‘in-law’”, she would say). She was Me-Maw to her grandchildren Kristopher and Alexandria, and GiGi to her great-grandchildren Ryke and Libby. Her smile was never bigger than when hugging all of them. Outside of her family, her other great love was the Lord. She was a woman of deep faith who nurtured her faith community at St. Joan of Arc parish as a communion distributor, a choir member, and volunteer for fish frys, parish festivals, and anything else required.

In many cultures the Moon is considered a female spirit, a symbol of motherhood and nurturing energy. It was fitting that she chose to leave this world on the eve of the Flower Moon, the first full moon in May when spring flowers bloom. The moon is the brightest object visible in the night sky, and we will see Mary Lou there every night, still nurturing and guiding all of us.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her brother James Angevine and her husband of 67 years Gerald “Jerry” A. Wilhelm. She is survived by her children Rebecca L. Parrish (James), Todd A. Wilhelm, and Scott M. Wilhelm (Virginia “Jeannie” Wong); grandchildren Kristopher (Kelli) Parrish and Alexandria (Jeffrey) Parrish-Williams; and great-grandchildren Ryke Williams and Libby Parrish.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Walker Funeral Home 5155 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43623; a prayer service will begin at 5:30 pm. A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, OH 43614. Entombment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the Family requests that contributions be made to Sunshine Communities https://www.sunshine.org/donate/memorial-or-honorarium. On the donation form, check “I would like to dedicate this donation”; and send Notifications “In Memory of Mary Lou Wilhelm”, at wongandwilhelm@gmail.com. The family expresses deep gratitude to Kingston of Perrysburg Residence and Rehabilitation for their unending compassion and care.