Carolyn Ann Mitchell

Dr. Carolyn Ann (Alexander) Mitchell was born on November 2, 1932, in Toronto, Canada. Known as Ann by family and friends, she was the daughter of James Ritchie and Mabel Islay Alexander. Ann was married for more than 64 years to Peter Mitchell (1929-2018), and was mother to Katherine (Cowgill), Georgia (Parham), Matthew and Douglas. Ann had 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Ann spent her early childhood in Toronto before moving to Detroit, Michigan, where she grew up with her brothers James and John and her sister Isabel. She met Pete on Christmas Eve, 1947, at St. Mathias Episcopal Church, where she sang in the St. Cecilia choir and he served as an acolyte. Ann received her bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and married Pete in 1954. The family spent many years in Jackson, Michigan, before moving to Muncie, Indiana, in 1969. Ann earned her Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees at Ball State University. She worked as a school psychologist at Newcastle Schools until 1998 when she and Pete retired to Bloomington.

Ann and Pete spent their lives providing their children, and later, their grandchildren, with a wealth of family memories. Ann loved camping, and together the family made annual treks across the U.S. and Canada in their little pop-up camper. She and Pete had many journeys abroad and visited six continents over her long life. While she was always ready for a new adventure, Ann had a particular fondness for Thailand and, closer to home, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and nearby Lake Lemon.

Ann was a force of nature, meeting the challenges in her life with determination, optimism and a great sense of humor. She loved animals, was an avid bird watcher and plant lover, and had a passion for nature and the outdoors. She always saw a little patch of blue in a cloudy sky and never missed a chance to experience something new. Ann was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington where she served for many years on the Altar Guild. Well into her 80s, Ann delivered Meals on Wheels. Ann liked to knit, sew, paint and garden, among many other pursuits, and made the best pie crust south of the Canadian border.

Ann’s family extends its grateful appreciation to Ally Evans and the other nurses and staff of Southern Care Hospice.

A funeral service for Ann will be held on Saturday, January 27, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 S. Grant St., Bloomington, IN 47401. Arrangements are under the direction of Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ann’s memory to the Bloomington animal shelter, where Ann adopted her beloved pets. Donations may be made to Bloomington Animal Care and Control, 3410 S. Walnut St., Bloomington, IN 47401.

You are invited to share your favorite memories of Ann by sending them to the family at [email protected]