Shirley E. Mitchell

Shirley E. Mitchell, age 78, started her journey to Heaven on February 3, 2015. She was born December 21, 1936 in Concord NH to the late John Joseph and Mary Ellen (Doherty) Prendergast who met after emigrating from their native Ireland. Shirley was a parishioner of St John’s Catholic Church and attended parish schools, graduating in 1954 from St Johns High School. She was an office worker at the NH State Highway Department and later worked as a stenographer and supervisor at United Life and Accident Insurance Company before leaving to start a family. When her daughter started school, also at St Johns, Shirley became President of the PTA and taught CCD. Later on she returned to work part time as a secretary first at the NH Technical Institute, then at the NH Police Training Academy. When her husband changed jobs in 1980 Shirley moved to Potter Place, NH where she tried her hand successfully at farming. She joined the Immaculate Conception Church and became a greeter and all-around volunteer. Shirley made a career out of helping others and loving her extended family, especially her grandchildren. Shirley was a member of Catholic Daughters of America, Andover Lioness Club, Coast to Coast, the “Fun Bunch”, Colonial Colony Sassy Belles, and a Charter Life Member of the Good Sam’s Club. After retirement Shirley and her husband sold their home and lived full time in their motor coach, extensively traveling the US and Canada before finally settling in 1998 in Daytona Beach FL. Travel remained a highlight of her life, culminating in a Golden Anniversary trip to Europe to visit family, research genealogy and take in the sights in several countries. Shirley was predeceased by sisters Mary Wooten (Danny) of Dayton Ohio, and Helen Stokes (Hector) of Concord NH, and infant daughter Diana Lynn Mitchell. She will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 54 years, Harold D. Mitchell, daughter Debra Miner (Jeffrey) of Bellevue NE, brother John (Anne) Prendergast of Concord NH, sister Nancy Desjardins of Port Orange FL, grandchildren Jennifer Miner of Bellevue NE and Robert Miner of Lawton OK, and a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews scattered across the US and Europe. A Memorial Mass will take place Monday, February 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Catholic Church of the Epiphany, 201 Lafayette St, Port Orange. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.volusiamemorialfuneral.com