Mary Rowe Mighell

The Greatest Generation is a name given to those born during the 1920s-30s. This was the generation that grew up during the Great Depression and experienced WWII. This generation was noted for many fine qualities: work ethic, personal responsibility, integrity, service, prudent saving, faithful commitment. The people who grew up in America’s mid-west were noted for their honesty, their patriotism, their faith, their love of family.

Mary R. Mighell, born October 20th, 1922 in Billings, Montana, embodied these qualities. Starting with faithful commitment and love of family, Mary inspired her family. She married Scott Mighell in 1946. Their marriage lasted 74 years. They had three children, Kathy, Ann and Scott. There are 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Mary and Scott generously shared their love of travel with family. They sponsored trips to all corners of the earth. They supported making life a joyous event: trips, education, special classes, and many more generous opportunities. They opened their home to their brothers, their parents, nieces, cousins, siblings, friends. Many a holiday gathering with a ‘groaning board’ and zillions of cookies are remembered. As the last of that familial generation, Mary will be sorely missed.

Mary understood, thanks to the Great Depression, the importance of a work ethic, prudent saving and passed that understanding to her children. We tend to save aluminum foil, rubber bands and for a long time, balls of string. She taught us to be careful with our money but that money was something to be used not just for our livelihood but to help others. She dedicated time and talent as well as treasure to various groups: PEO, Assistant League, Church. She served as a grand example of how to live a generous, prudent life.

Mary believed firmly in a strong work ethic. She supported all three children in whatever work they did. She and Scott attended all graduations and any event that celebrated a family member’s work. She was very proud of her own B.S. degree from Iowa State in Experimental Cooking and she was, indeed, a fine chef. Later in life, in her 60s, she became fascinated by the new technology in sewing. She became an embroidery quilter, fashioning lovely quilts that are prized.

Mary was honest and kind to many people. She demanded the same respect she had for others of her family. She was deeply patriotic and had a strong religious belief. These characteristics saw her through a fine, long life. She represented the Greatest Generation well and as one of the last ones, she will be remembered and missed.

Mary was fortunate to be visited by many family members before she passed. She is survived by her three children: Kathy Mighell Tilley, (husband Jeff Tilley, daughters Sister Mary Oda, aka Jenny Tilley, Molly Tilley, husband Jason Burge; children Maddie, Jack Burge), Ann Mighell (husband Charlie Garcia; children: Christopher, Annie, son Dylan; Alexa, husband Rob and soon a son; Briana Garcia) and Scott Mighell (wife Vicki, daughter Meredith Mighell Pabst, husband Mitchell, children: Frankie and Summer; Kimberly Mighell, Kevin Miller, son Finnegan; Shea Mighell Guerra, husband Auturo Guerra.

Services: 11 AM Wednesday, August 17th Funeral Mass St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 6180 E. Willow St. Long Beach, CA

Graveside service: 11:15 AM Westminster Memorial Park & Mortuary 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA

Celebration of Life luncheon: 1 PM Mary Mighell’s home/backyard 1350 Knoxville Ave. Long Beach, CA