Priscilla Mitchell

in Keene. She was born in Burlington, Vt., and raised in Warner, N.H., by

her mother, Pearle Neary Wood and adoptive father, Raymond E. Wood. At

eighteen she moved to Durham, N.H. and studied for one year at the

University of New Hampshire. While there, she met and married her husband

and life mate of 66 years, Darrell Lee Mitchell, was confirmed in the

Episcopal Church, and bore two children. In 1955, she moved to Charlestown,

N.H., where she was active at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and served as a

Brownie troop leader, among other activities.

Since 1960 she has resided in Swanzey Center, N.H. Despite lifelong health

challenges, she lived a full and happy life. In the 1960s she resumed her

college education and graduated from Keene State College, after which she

taught school for a brief period of time. She then earned her real estate

license and worked for George Blais Realtors for a number of years. She was

the first woman to serve on the vestry of St. James Episcopal Church and was

a co-founder of the St. James Thrift Shop, which she managed for many years.

She also worked on the church bazaars. Throughout her life she enjoyed

antiques, and for many years was an antique dealer.

Priscilla had wide and diverse interests, but her family always came first.

She played bridge almost every week of her adult life, went camping with her

family, was an avid Red Sox fan, enjoyed challenging crossword and other

puzzles, read voraciously, loved cooking, baking and entertaining,

corresponded regularly with family and friends, delighted in bird watching

and her flower gardens, and loved to travel. She and her husband enjoyed

extensive travel in North America, Europe, the British Iles, and the

Caribbean.

She also found time for pets, knitting, sewing, and crafts. She loved people

and her home was always open to friends and family. She particularly loved

children and became a virtual "Grammie" to dozens. Her indomitable sense of

humor carried her through many challenging times. In short, her motto could

have been, "Live, love and laugh."

Priscilla is survived by her husband, Darrell L. Mitchell of Swanzey Center,

two children and their spouses, Robert and Kim Mitchell of Swanzey Center,

and Susan and Ralph "Whip" Newell of Winchester, N.H., two grandchildren and

their spouses, Leah and Seth Reynells of Hilton Head, S.C., and Michael and

Ashley Mitchell of Epping, N.H., two sisters, Katherine Sheridan of Grove

City, OH, and Prudence Wood of Kingston, N.H., three brothers and their

spouses, George and Ida Wood of Lynwood, Wa., Kenneth and Elizabeth Paige of

Merrimack, N.H., and Alan and Gayle Paige of Manchester, N.H., two

great-grandchildren, Olivia and Isaac Reynells, and numerous nieces and

nephews.

A private burial will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Swanzey Center.

Friends are invited to join her family and others in celebrating her life at

her home on Saturday, April 28, from 1:00-3:00 P.M. Donations may be made in

her memory to Mt. Caesar Union Library, 628 Old Homestead Highway, Swanzey

Center, N.H. 03446, or The Community Kitchen, P.O. Box 1315, Keene, N.H.

03431.