Mass
Obituary of Mary Jo McCarthy Mitchell
.Mary Jo Mitchell, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at 88 on November 5, surrounded by her loving family.
Rooted in a deep Catholic faith, Mary Jo lived a life shaped by love, service, and devotion to God and family. A lifelong parishioner of St. Augustine Church, she spent countless hours volunteering, attending daily Mass, and supporting parish ministries. Her quiet strength and unwavering belief in the power of prayer inspired everyone who knew her. The greatest gift she gave her family and friends was the way she lived her faith, especially in the face of profound loss.
A lifelong resident of Larchmont, Mary Jo attended Dominican Day School, St. Augustine School, The Ursuline School and graduated from Marymount College in Tarrytown. She began her career as a teacher, but her greatest joy was raising her eight children with her first husband, Tom McCarthy. She endured heartbreak with the loss of her son, Tommy Jr., to leukemia in 1971 and Tom’s sudden passing in 1976. Through it all, her faith, resilience, and love for her family never wavered.
In 1978, Mary Jo began a new chapter at the Archdiocese of New York, Health and Hospitals. She later joined St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains as an administrator, where she served until her retirement in 1999.
In 1981, she found love again with Bob Mitchell. Together they blended their families and shared years filled with travel, golf, and laughter. Bob passed away in 1998, and the memories they made remained a lasting source of comfort.
Mary Jo was a fixture at the Larchmont Yacht Club, where she played bridge, celebrated family milestones, and volunteered for the Robie Pierce Handicapped Regatta. She was known for her quick wit, generous heart, and the warmth she brought to every gathering. Entertaining friends and family, playing bridge, and swapping stories were among her favorite things.
She leaves behind her children: Terri Davis-Scully (Vinny), Beth McErlean-Pierce, Irish Benson (Paul), Muffin Wilcoski (Ray), Nancy McCreery (Sean), Sean McCarthy (Chrissy), and Meghan McCarthy, and her stepchildren Bob Mitchell (Lisa), Kate Pallandre (Elie), Pat Francois (Bruno) and daughter-in-law Diane Mitchell. Mary Jo was a proud grandmother to 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She also leaves her beloved dog, Sophia Loren. She is predeceased by her siblings Ann, Jean, and Jimmy; her son Tommy; her husband’s Tom McCarthy and Bob Mitchell; her stepson Matt Mitchell; her sons-in-law John McErlean, John Pierce, and Jack Davis; and her grandson Gus Benson.
Mary Jo’s family will remember her love, grace, strong opinions, and the legacy she leaves in the hearts of all who knew her.
A celebration of Mary Jo’s life will be held on Saturday, November 8, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in memory of her beloved grandson.