Marie Bernadine Mitchell

Marie Bernadine Mitchell passed away peacefully at her home on May 12, 2025, after a battle with brain cancer. She was surrounded by her family on Mother’s Day and succumbed the next morning. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Mitchell; her sons Michael Scott Cleary and Stephen Bradley Cleary; their wives Lisa and Nicole Cleary; grandchildren Jessica Cleary and her wife Teresa Black, Michael Cleary, Brooke Cleary and Jacie Black; and great-granddaughter Maryjane Sunshine Cleary. Marie is also survived by her sister Delia Lee Baliantz, her brother Norman P. Quinn, and her niece and nephew Nora Bellmore and Patrick Quinn, and their spouses. Marie also is survived by her extended family of cousins and her Aunt Ninfa Oplustic. She will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her. Marie never wasted a day in her life, at work, at home, or in her retirement years. Marie was born in El Paso, Texas, but spent the rest of her life in California, primarily in San Bernardino County, living in Redlands and Highland. She graduated from San Bernardino Valley College where she met her life-long friend Linda Mitrovich, engaging in a “smile” campaign on campus. Marie then graduated from California State College San Bernardino, earning a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential. Marie also attended Citrus Belt Law School in Riverside, earning Juris Doctorate. In her working life, Marie first taught grade school at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in San Bernardino for five years, then taught grade school at Hesperian Unified School District in the High Desert for over 30 years. She brought a joy of learning and an enthusiasm to teaching that were unmatched. In retirement Marie acted in plays performed by the Redlands Shakespeare Festival, then joined the Assistance League of Redlands and the American Association of University Women. Marie was the president of AAUW and also held numerous positions with the AL, doing volunteer work every month at the thrift store operated by the AL to fund local philanthropic causes such as Operation School Bell. Her style, guidance, infectious smile, and enthusiasm for life, learning, and her family will be missed beyond measure. And a special thanks to family and friends who helped Marie during her struggle with cancer, especially her friends of forty years, Cindy and Tony Giorgio, who visited and encouraged her on a daily basis during her hospitalization and later when Marie returned home.