Irma Lou (Short) Heldman, Age 89, passed away on October 15, 2022, at home, surrounded by family. Born February 22, 1933, daughter of the late James and Esther (Knaup) Short.

She was the beloved wife of the late Murray Mackenzie "Mack" Heldman, Mother of Sherry (Gary) Wann of Overland Park, KS, Pamela (Scott) Sult of Grand Rapids, and Todd (Kris) Heldman of Kentwood; Grandma to Emily (Jake) Williams, Matthew Wann, Chloe(Brandon) Gafford, Miranda Sult, Conner Heldman, Andrew Haverkamp, and Kelli Heldman; Great-Grandmother to Thora Williams, Cora Gafford, and Leslie Heldman; Aunt to many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are her late husband's son Craig Heldman of Alto and daughter Susan (Patrick) Ford of Lowell, and their children and grandchildren.

In addition to her late husband of thirty-eight years, Lou was preceded in death by their infant son and her sisters Marj Reed, Phyllis Short, and Eleanor Bos.

Lou was a graduate of Central High School and attended the former Grand Rapids Junior College. A dental assistant for several years, she served as secretary of the Grand Rapids Dental Assistants Society for two years. She also co-presented a clinic at the Michigan State Dental Association (1958) Annual Meeting in Detroit. Following Marriage in 1959, she devoted her life to her family for many years, returning to work in 1979 as a Customer Service Representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan until retirement.

Lou loved to play the organ and piano, leading singalongs in her home and accompanying her children on several occasions. She loved to garden and raised beautiful white and pink peonies which she cut and shared with family and friends. Following the death of her husband and at the urging of her children, Lou picked up the clarinet again after not playing it since high school and joined the New Horizons Senior Band in Grand Rapids.

In her last few years, Lou kept a positive attitude and sense of humor though enduring extreme isolation, and physical losses. She was a strong, independent woman, who cared deeply and passed on those traits to her family. and will be deeply missed.

There will be a memorial service mid-November. Those wishing to attend please contact Pam at 616-206-2950 and leave a message. Internment and private burial will be held at Rest Lawn. Service Details. Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Irma Heldman February 22, 1933 - October 15, 2022 Look inside to read what others have shared Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book