Maizel Mary Mitchell

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 8, 2008, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville for Maizel Mary Mitchell, 91, who died on Friday, February 29, 2008 at Lafayette General Medical Center. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, in St. Martinville. Rev. Fr. Thomas Mullally, SVD, pastor of Notre Dame Catholic Church, will officiate at the funeral Mass. Maizel was born to Lilly Rose Davis and Paul Anthony Mitchell on May 13, 1916, in St. Martinville, LA. ?Her elementary education in grades 2 to 6 were at Mercy Catholic School. ?She completed the 7th grade in the newly built Notre Dame School and was its first graduate. ?In 1933, she entered St. Edwards High School until graduating in May of 1937. ?From 1937 - 1938, she entered Sacred Heart High School in Lake Charles where she received her Teachers Normal Training Certificate. ?In 1945, she received her B.S. from Grambling University. ?From 1950 - 1980, she began teaching in St. Martin Parish, grades 1, 2 and 3 in Banker, until 1953, and grade 1 for 22 years at Adam Carlson Primary. ?She joined the staff of the St. Martin Council on Aging as a Case Management Specialist in June of 1987. ?She served as the secretary of the St. Joseph Society for 40 years. ? Throughout the years, she had received numerous awards from various organizations and businesses, such as, Outstanding Volunteer Service, Outstanding Service and Contribution to the Improvement of Education for Children, Outstanding Service in the Field of Education, Outstanding Contribution to Education of Youths, Distinguished Service Award, Dedicated Service to the Children of St. Martin Parish, Contribution to Community and Education, and Outstanding Older Worker of the Year. Survivors include the three children whom she raised as her own, Rev. Verne Thibodeaux and wife, Lydia, and Marilyn Anthony, all of St. Martinville, and Shawana Thibodeaux, of Lake Charles. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Hilda Theresa Mitchell. The family requested that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Friday and continue at 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.