Janet L. Mitchell

Janet L. (Stevens) Mitchell, 78, of Ashland, MA, died Monday, December 2, 2024 at UMass Memorial Medical Center. She was the wife of Daniel E. Mitchell, Sr. of Ashland, MA. After a lengthy battle with medical issues, Janet passed peacefully surrounded by her family.

Born in New Bedford, MA, she was the daughter of the late Irene (Costa) Stevens and Edward Stevens Jr., she lived in Dartmouth most of her life. 

In her youth, Janet was an avid equestrian and athlete. A member of the Dartmouth Horsemen’s Association, she and her horse Suntan, along with her sister Sandy participated in many shows, competitions and trail rides. She also played softball, volleyball, basketball and field hockey.

A graduate of Dartmouth High School, Janet went on to attend Southern Illinois University, where she received her bachelors of Elementary Education, Bachelors in Special Education and Masters in Special Education.While she was in college, she met her husband Dan Mitchell, and they were married on October 8, 1966. They were married for 58 years.

Janet started her teaching career in Columbus, GA, but she spent most of her teaching career at Alfred J Gomes school in New Bedford as a Special Education 2nd-3rd grade teacher, where she retired from after over 20 years. Janet loved animals and adopted many of them over the years, including several cats, a ferret and a parrot. After retiring, she moved to Lehigh Acres and Middleburg, FL with her husband, father and mother-in-law. She returned to Massachusetts in 2020 with her husband Dan and her cat Yeager, to live with her son and daughter-in-law in Ashland, MA, to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Dan Sr and her son Dan Mitchell Jr. and his wife Julie of Ashland, MA, her daughter Kimberly Potter and her husband Michael of Pittsburgh, PA, her son Edward Mitchell and his wife Angela of Holliston, MA, her sister Sandra Mooney, her niece Karen Toomey and her husband Frank, her nephew Pat Mooney Jr. and his wife Lisa of Stark, FL, along with several grandchildren, grandnieces and a grandnephew.

A memorial service and burial will be held in the new year. Notice will be posted in the local newspaper and online.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the ASPCA in Janet’s name to support her love of animals.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth Street, New Bedford.