Mary Christine Mitchell

Mary C. Mitchell, 60, Altoona, passed away Monday at Maybrook Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Altoona, daughter of Joan (Stetter) Plummer and the late Jerome Mitchell.

She is survived by her mother; Joan Plummer; a son, Michael Mainello; her lifelong partner, Daniel Mainello; 3 sisters: Ann Cresswell, (Wyatt), Regina Polito and Denise Mitchell (David Sparrow); 3 step-siblings: Jody Culp, Cathy Pathi and Bill Plummer. Mary was very fond of her nieces and nephews: D.J. Polito; Aubrie Cresswell (Daniel Ransom); Morgan Cresswell; Peter Mitchell and her great niece Isabella Grace Polito. Mary would have absolutely adored Isabella, due to her emotional connection to her first born nephew D.J. She was very close to her Aunt Veronica and Uncle Bud Ferry, Theresa White and her Uncle Pete Stetter. Mary’s first cousins include: Michael Ferry; Andrea Nalevanko (Brian); Michelle MacPherson (Jesse and their children Connor, Owen and Cora); Shamus White; Jay Lee White and Brent White (son Marquise).

Mary was preceded in death by her step-father, David Plummer.

Mary was a graduate of Altoona High School and worked in the dietary department for both the Altoona and Ebensburg Mental Health Centers. Mary most especially loved her job at Health South as a therapy aide, where she thrived taking care of her patients. She was very crafty and enjoyed creating homemade personal greeting cards for her friends and family. She never failed to put extra effort into every gift she ever gave, as she would rather be the giver than the receiver.

Mary had an extraordinary sense of humor and quick wit; in seconds she could instantly make up a song, rhyme, jingle, or funny joke. There was always laughter in the room when Mary was present. Family was everything to Mary. She made an extra effort to visit her elder aunts and never missed a family function. In the words of her loving son Michael, “Even when my mom’s dementia started to progress and she was losing her words, she never lost the love she felt for her family.”

Mary always had a great love for music, especially classic rock and roll. Special memories were made when joining Mary to a concert in Pittsburgh. Mary and her three younger sister’s had the pleasure of watching their loving mother Joan prepare meals while she listened and sang to the music of folk singers, her favorite being James Taylor. We all agree that Mary took to heart the song written by James Taylor, as she undoubtably felt that one should, “Shower the people you love with love, show them the way you feel, things are gonna to work out fine if you only will. Do as I say...Shower the people you love with love, show them the way that you feel, things are gonna be much better if you only
will.”

Mary, beyond a doubt, showered us all with love. She is deeply missed.

Friends will be received from 11am until the 12:30pm funeral service on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Axe and Santella Family Chapel, 1534 - 4th St.
Altoona 16601. Committal will be at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mary can be made to the
Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org.

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