Thelma Finto Mitchell

Thelma Mitchell passed from this life on Monday, March 18, 2013, at her residence here in Brownsville, Texas. She spent the last eight years of her life living with a difficult disease through faith in God, determination, family and a very active extended Christian family.

Thelma began her life in the small town of Verdi, Texas outside of San Antonio, in a hardworking Christian farming family, the oldest of two brothers and four sisters. Thelma remembered this life vividly and it shaped her ability to deal with hard work and hard times. She was a bookworm and loved reading everything from Agatha Christi to John Steinbeck. Thelma was an artist in several mediums but enjoyed charcoal pencils the most.
She sewed, painted, gardened, repaired antique furniture, and laid patio block like a pro.

Thelmas first fulltime job was as a long distance operator in San Antonio, TX at the age of 18. Shortly after that, she married a handsome border patrolman, Daniel Mitchell, and moved to Brownsville, TX at 19. Their journey together took them to Fort Meyers, FL, Laredo and Eagle Pass, TX, and then back to Brownsville once more. Through those years they raised three boys and she thoroughly enjoyed the overwhelming adventure of motherhood. Thelma had an enormous capacity for forgiveness and acceptance that made her an ideal mother and a wonderful friend.

After supporting her boys as room mother, chaperone, encourager, defender, and mediator she began her next career at Dillards as a salesperson and later, telephone operator. She had many fond memories of all the good people she met and befriended there. After retiring from Dillards, she decided to use her knowledge and a vast collection of antiques to open booths in several stores in downtown Harlingen. This led to offer to open a gift shop at the then, new Harlingen Medical Center. Thelma and friends created a novel gift and antique shop allinone. Thelma loved being a business woman and member of the Zonta Club during that time, but her favorite memories were of all the people she met and worked with. It was always about the people. Even in her ability to paint and draw, her favorite subjects were always peoples faces. Thelma thought faces were the hardest, but most rewarding subjects to capture.

Mom had a great love of God and Jesus and her church family. Thelma didnt get her drivers license until the age of 40, so she would often walk her boys to church and back on Sundays and Wednesdays. She spent years as a Bible School teacher and VBS volunteer. She wrote curriculum, helped with childrens church, and was active in bible classes as a student all her life.

Thelmas goals, loves, and focus in life changed very little from the years after her diagnosis and she will be remembered for that spirit. Thelma was deeply loved and will be
profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Forrest Mitchell and her parents.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of her are the three sons she was so proud of: Forrest Kenya Mitchell, Mark Kay Mitchell, and David Mitchell the grandchildren that she adored: Robert Forrest Lauren Mitchell and Evelyn Denise Mitchell her siblings: Doris Homer Clark, Carl Mary Finto, Ellen John Watson, Edward Finto, Edna Roy Sr. Thein, and Joyce Chuck Warner her sisterinlaw, Margaret Mitchell and numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family members, and a host of friends.

Thelmas family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20th in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21st, at Church of Christ, 2434 E. Price Rd. We ask that everyone meet at the church, as there will not be a procession from the funeral home to church. Committal services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 22nd, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where her mortal body will be interred with her beloved husband Daniel.

Thelma and the family would like to thank the Price Road Church of Christ for their years of love and service. Thelma and the family also send our admiration and appreciation to Drs. Mita, Rosseau, and Sharma for being such caring physicians and the CTRC of San Antonio, the South Texas Cancer Center in Brownsville, and Safehaven Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Thelmas name may be to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South, 510, Salt Lake City, Utah 84096, 8019990455 and www.cholangiocarcinoa.org.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.

Service

Celebration of Life Service

Church of Christ
2434 East Price Road
Brownsville, TX  78521
Thursday, March 21, 2013
9:30 a.m.

Cemetery

Fort Sam Houston
1520 Harry Wurzbach Road
San Antonio, TX  78209

Memorial Contributions

5526 West 13400 South, #510
Salt Lake City, UT  84096