Mary Lou Omeis
Mary Lou Wheeler Omeis, age 97, of LaGrange Park, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at Plymouth Place.
Born Mary Lou Wheeler on December 30, 1922 and raised in Western Springs, Illinois, she received an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Miami University in Ohio where she joined Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She married Army Air Corps Cadet William Ralph Omeis, from Mayfield Heights, Ohio in Santa Ana, California on March 6, 1943. After his release from the Army, they returned to Western Springs, and were one of the initial families of LaGrange Terrace, Illinois (now part of Countryside). In 1963, the family returned to Western Springs.
After settling in the Chicago area, she became involved regionally as an alumnus of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, reviewing sorority applicants for college chapters and serving as a delegate to the national conventions.
Mary Lou was involved in the LaGrange Art League since the 1960s. She held various offices, including Board President, and helped in the purchase of, move to, and remodeling of the current LaGrange Art League building. Mary Lou was also a founding member of the Hinsdale Cultural Arts Center and held many offices there, including Chairman. She worked a variety of mediums, but preferred pastels and oils, and lent her assistance to schools, Girl Scouts, church, taught at the YMCA, gave private lessons on vacation, exhibited art fairs, and was a delegate to the West Suburban Fine Arts Alliance.
In 1969, she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, holding many offices in her local chapter, including Regent, and served as a national delegate in Washington D.C. On May 19, 2012, at the LaGrange Country Club, she was completely surprised with an American Heritage Award for Women in the Arts from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Other involvements included local garden clubs, member of her Lyons Township High School class reunions, and the Western Springs Historical Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents Bradner Dundy Wheeler, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Wheeler, her husband, William Ralph Omeis, her three younger siblings: Ann Wheeler Smith-Marshall, Bradner Dundy Wheeler, Jr., and Martha Monnett.
Mary Lou is survived by her three daughters, Mary Lou (Tudy) Calegari, Linda Abraham, and Carolyn Fisher; grandchildren Douglas Gooding, Jeffrey Gooding, Richard Abraham, Heidi Abraham, and Bradley Gooding; and five great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in LaGrange, Illinois.
I knew Lou from the time I was in third grade as our across the street neighbor, and the mom of my childhood pal, Tudy. She was a pivotal part of the lives of all the neighborhood kids growing up, and I remember her with enormous fondness and respect.
Dear Family of Mary Lou,
For many years I would pick up Mary Lou at Plymouth Place and take her to the DAR meetings. I will miss her stories of growing up in Western Springs, attending LT High School and marrying a handsome soldier. My favorite story was how she traveled alone to CA on the train to marry your father. I loved those war stories. I treasure one of her paintings that she gave me. Mary Lou was a lovely lady.
Jeanne Christoff
LaGrange LePortage Chapter NSDAR