Lorna Snyder Mitchell

Lorna was taught by her mother at about 5 years old how to play the piano and later on, professionally trained to continue piano and to play the violin and clarinet. Her sister Arlene also played piano and they played and sang duets at church and at school. Lorna went to church with her family in Attica, New York.

She went with her sister Arlene to college for two years and her hope was to open a tearoom. Lorna met Lynn Mitchell while at college and her sister too had a beau so they double dated. Lynn completed his engineering degree and enlisted in the Navy when World War II started.

Lorna and Lynn were married as soon as Lynn heard he was going to war in the Navy. They honeymooned in New York City just before Lynn was shipped out.

During the war, Lorna and Arlene moved back home with her parents and younger sister in Attica, NY. Lorna and Arlene worked during wartime in a local manufacturing plant. Later, she and baby Judy moved to Virginia to be near where Lynn would come into port.

After wartime, Lynn went to work as an engineer and Lorna busied herself with their two daughters: Judy and Mary, and then a son David arrived.

Lorna had learned to be an excellent seamstress and sewed many of her own clothes and her two daughters’ clothes as well and taught them to sew when they grew older. She also loved crafting. She played violin, piano and organ beautifully, playing piano or organ at her churches and entertaining at nursing homes wherever they currently lived. She also had a beautiful solo voice and sang for church services with duets or trios many times. Lorna and Lynn were both active in church work, Lorna in a ladies group and Lynn on different Boards as well as serving as usher. They both taught Sunday School.

Lynn and Lorna made travel an important part of their lives as they loved it. They took many cruises, they had a motor home and travelled all over United States and Canada, especially after retirement years.

Lorna had a wonderful mischievous sense of humor. She could always joke back if someone gave her an opportunity. She had a positive attitude and always thought of her children first, and how not to make things difficult for them.

They lived in New York State, in California and Arizona. Their homes were always places to visit, as Lorna would always serve a wonderful dinner to guests and they enjoyed having friends visit. They celebrated their 60 year anniversary with a trip to a Colorado resort for their whole family. Great memories were made by the whole family.

Wherever she moved in her later years, Lorna wanted her piano to go with her. She played it every evening for relaxation in her memory care unit and people would gather at her closed door to listen. Through the years she would always spend an hour or so every day playing the piano for enjoyment but she also told that it was good for her arthritic hands. She played until a couple of weeks before she passed at age 99. Lorna was dearly loved and treasured by her family and many friends

No services will be available to the public due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Mary Mayer, 20346 N 106th Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85382