Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary Jane Keres Larson

April 27, 1923 - Aug. 26, 2008

South Bend Tribune 8/28/2008
OSCEOLA - Mary Jane (Helmlinger) Keres Larson, 85, of Osceola, IN, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, in her home. She was born on April 27, 1923, in Mishawaka, IN, to the late Oscar and Lulu (Selner) Helmlinger. She worked as a waitress for many years in South Bend restaurants and retired from Rayco in South Bend. Mary Jane was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #308, Osceola, the VFW Auxiliary Post #360, Mishawaka, and the Moose Lodge of Elkhart. She is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Larson; a son, Otto Eugene (Angie Elizabeth) Keres Jr. of Osceola; three stepsons, Tom, John and Paul Larson, all of South Bend; three step-daughters, Betty Keres of Las Vegas, NV, Mary Ellen Singleton of Mishawaka and Nancy Neitch of South Bend; two grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren and a great-grandchild; a sister, Irene Bice; and was a loving aunt to Karen Heeter of Mishawaka and Sandra Rice of Elkhart. Mary Jane was preceded in death by a husband, Otto Keres Sr., in 1989.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM Friday, August 29, 2008, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Saturday, August 30, 2008, in the funeral home, with burial to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.