Mary FitzSimmons Heilman Althoff

Mary FitzSimmons Heilman Althoff Mary FitzSimmons Heilman Althoff, surrounded by her family, went home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 85. Born in Evanston, Illinois on November 21, 1931 to Wesley and Martha Strickland Heilman, Mary grew up in Chappaqua, New York where she was an avid field hockey player at Horace Greeley High School, as well at Northwestern University. Upon graduating from Northwestern, Mary married Richard "Dick" Joseph Althoff of Detroit, Michigan, on June 19, 1954. While raising five children in Chappaqua, Mary used her artistic abilities to bring joy to many through her arts and crafts and oil paintings. Mary then embarked on a 40-year journey as a silver smith, creating beautiful sterling silver jewelry for generations to enjoy. In 1976, with her family, she relocated to Roswell, Georgia where she became an avid golfer and continued her silver smith trade. In 1998 she and Dick retired to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where they enjoyed golfing and entertaining. While a resident of Hilton Head Island Mary was an active member of St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church and had been a member of The Bluffton Guild. Mary recently relocated to Travelers Rest, South Carolina to be closer to family and attended St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Greenville. Upon the death of her beloved in 1999, in addition to enjoying time with family and friends, Mary enjoyed any opportunity to shop and travel, from the land and waters of the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, to the coast of Peru, she enjoyed life to the fullest. A loving and faithful wife and mother, trusted friend and the youngest of four, she is preceded in death by her husband, Dick, her parents, two brothers and sister. She is survived by her five children, 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: daughter, Cathy Kerr of Summerville, South Carolina; daughter, Cind‚ (JT) Thompson of Bountiful, Utah; son, Richard (Ashley) Althoff of Sarasota, Florida; son, Stephen (Cinda) Althoff of Greer, South Carolina; and son, Michael (Jill) Althoff of Hendersonville, North Carolina; grandchildren: Wesley, Alyssa and Meghan Althoff; Ashley, Amanda and Reid Althoff; Taylor, Wesley, Amelia and Victoria Thompson; Kyle (Madison) and Abigail Althoff; great-grandchildren: Brayden and Colton Althoff. Family will accept visitors on Thursday, April 27th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Keith Funeral Home, 63 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Following the visitation, a Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends at 6:30pm at Hogs Head Kitchen & Wine Bar, 1555 Fording Island Road, Hilton Head Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, April 28th, at 10:00am, at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, 45 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. A private burial service for family will follow at the Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church/"School Endowment Fund," 307 Gower Street, Greenville, SC 29611 and St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, 45 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.