Josephine Mitchell

Josephine “Joie” M. Mitchell, age 78, of East Leroy, passed away Thursday, March 23, 2017, after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born May 19, 1938 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of Edwin and Josephine (Giroux) Page. Following graduation from Marshall High School, Josephine went to work for the Department of Civil Service where she worked for several years before starting a family. She later worked in the office of Dr. Girardot and Dr. Lam until her retirement in 1999. A member of St. Philip Catholic Church she had also attended St. Martin Catholic Church in Vicksburg. Joie enjoyed traveling, cooking, baking, gardening and spending time with friends and family. She also enjoyed many years of early morning water aerobics with “the Mermaids” at the Battle Creek Y Center. On August 19, 1983 she was married to Frank D. Mitchell who survives. Also surviving are her children from her first marriage to Thomas Ladley; daughter Karin Ladley and son Gary Ladley both of Battle Creek; step-son Scott (Judy) Mitchell of Centreville and step-daughter Annette Storey of Three Rivers; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and special niece Maria Tuyls and nephew Frank Page, along with several other nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters in law. The family would like to acknowledge special thanks to Trudy Yarnell and the caregivers from Trudy’s Home for their superb care over the past months and recent days. She was preceded in death by a son Mark Ladley, grandson Andrew Powell, and three brothers: Edwin, Frank and Charles Page. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at St. Philip Catholic Church with interment to follow at North Athens Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home on Monday, March 27th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the Rosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Parkinson’s Foundation or The Food Bank of South Central Michigan. www.henryfuneralhome.org