Barbara Jane deRoos Mitchell

Barbara Jane deRoos Mitchell (1940 – 2022)

Barbara Mitchell passed away November 19th at age 82 after a short illness.

She is predeceased by her husband, Michael F. Mitchell III, her parents, Robert and Betty deRoos of San Mateo, California, and her sister, Elizabeth Dority. She is survived by her son Robert and daughter-in-law, Mary, her daughter Carol, and her grandchildren, Daniel & Emily and Mounira & Tarek.

Barbara was born in San Francisco, CA. She grew up in Burlingame and attended Burlingame High School before matriculating at Stanford University, where she met her eventual husband. Leaving Stanford to follow Mike to Phoenix, she later obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at Arizona State University. She also completed a rigorous program at the Kino Institute of Religious Studies in Phoenix.

A resident of the Phoenix area since 1960, Barbi was very active at St. Theresa Catholic Parish, serving as President of the Ladies Sodality and a member of the Parish Council. She was a lifelong artist, painting murals at friends’ homes, designing craft clothing, and painting still lifes and landscapes in oil.

After raising her children, her favorite activities were painting with her regular group of friends, reading historical fiction and travelling to Europe.

Barbara was known widely as a kind, loving woman who was a patient listener and who always had a joyful smile to share.

She will be missed.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.