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Mitchell, Marie May Milan, MI Age 80, passed away peacefully in her home on July 6, 2006 due to cancer. She was born May 14, 1926 in Charlevoix, MI as the youngest of 3 to Stanley and Theresa Jancha, both first generation Czech immigrants. She grew up working on the family farm which supplied fresh produce to the resorts and hotels in the area. Marie graduated from Charlevoix H.S where she played the clarinet in 1944. She also enjoyed a brief stint as a professional clarinet player in Charlevoix. She graduated from nursing school at Foote Memo rial in Jackson, MI in 1948 as an RN, after getting started with one year at the University of Michigan. Her nursing education was funded by the U.S. Cadet Nursing initiative that was started due to the nursing shortage during WWII. She married Josh Mitchell (de ceased 1984) on September 19, 1948 in Saline, MI. She began her nursing career at Ypsilanti State Hospital in 1949. Her career there spanned over 40 years and she retired as Assist ant Director of Nursing in the spring of 1988. She was an active member of the hospital retiree organization. Marie was a loving mother, grandmother and a faithful friend. She loved to send cards, call or email to let people know that she was thinking of them and that she cared. An avid reader and word puzzle solver, Marie was also a steadfast Detroit Tigers fan. She consistently put the needs of others before her own throughout her entire life frequently making personal sacrifices in order to provide for family and friends. Also preceding her in death were her parents, her brother Ted Jancha (1999) and two children lost to miscarriage. She is survived by her sister, Olga Stevens of Braden ton Beach, FL; Ted's wife Lois Jancha of St. Joseph, MI; three children, Terri Mitchell of Milan, Odie Mitchell of Saline, David (Carol) Mitchell of Pinckney; five granddaughters Christine (Gerald) Marek of Ann Arbor, Stephanie (Colin) Lambers of Milan, Jami Mitch ell of Ypsilanti, Shelby Mitchell and Suzanne Mitchell of Pinckney; a great-granddaughter Abby Marek; plus one niece, four nephews and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be given to the Peoples Presbyteri an Church Children's Library Fund honoring Marie's love for children and for reading. Gift envelopes will be available at the memorial service or may be mailed to the church at 210 Smith Street, Milan, MI 48160. A memorial service followed by a luncheon/fellowship will be held on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Peoples Presbyterian Church in Milan (734-439-1922) with Pastor Arthur Oberg officiating. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements by Generations, Ann Arbor. |
