Lucy Ellen Mitchell (McGuinness)
Lucy Ellen McGuinness Mitchell, 90, of Novato, California, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 8th, 2026.
Lucy was born October 9, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio to Robert Jones McGuinness and Mary Catherine Brown McGuinness. She was a graduate of Dominican High School in San Rafael, California and received a BS in Nursing from University of San Francisco following two years at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana.
On January 7th, 1961, Lucy married Emery Kirke Mitchell, whom she had known from the time they were kids growing up together in Belvedere.
Lucy spent her almost 40-year career as a Registered Nurse in a variety of forms, including public health, the hospital neo-natal unit and school nursing. She later pursued a certification in audiology, which became a particular focus of her school nursing. Many have noted, including recently, that her great care - along with Emery - of their son Matt, certainly led to him live ten years past the life expectancy at that time for people with Cystic Fibrosis. She in fact diagnosed Matt with Cystic Fibrosis before his doctors had even considered it, having to make a compelling case so that they would even pursue testing. The testing, of course, confirmed her intuition.
Lucy loved to play cards from a very young age. She used to speak fondly of living in the dorms at St. Mary’s where there were very rigorous study time hours but there were 10–15-minute breaks when she and her friends would rush downstairs to tables with already flushed decks of cards, playing as much Bridge as the break would allow. One of her claims to fame was setting bridge master Charles Goran when he was passing through South Bend. She continued into mid-life playing in local Bridge clubs, and taught her kids many different card games over the years. Try as they might, it was a rare occurrence to beat her at her craft.
She was a fierce competitor not only at cards but ping-pong. She once played in a memorable table tennis doubles tournament on a cruise with her daughter Katy and daughter in law Cheryl looking on. Many a great laugh occurred around the family ping pong table where all her kid’s grand goals at the time included beating mom or dad at table tennis.
Lucy was fiercely loyal to her family, her friends, and her church. She attended and served as a volunteer at both St. Anthony’s church in Novato and as a lay leader with the sisters of the Carmelite Monastery in Marinwood. She was an example to all around her what it meant to live a life of grace, love, inclusivity and generosity.
She loved the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from her time at St. Mary’s College across the street in South Bend, loving to tell the story of her and her girlfriend getting to dance with the famous running back at Notre Dame, Paul Hornung. As a Giants fan, it was an amazing surprise when she was broadcast onto the jumbotron while attending a game at Candlestick Park and won the “Giants Fan of the Day” in 1989, receiving a few nice gifts.
Lucy loved to laugh and enjoyed people and movies that would get her giggling. Some of the most cherished family memories include her howling in laughter with her sister Martha in the kitchen. She also was a big fan of music, and particularly Neil Diamond among others. Her and Kim’s record collection reflected the wide variety of their music tastes, and often when the LPs were playing Mom could be seen dancing and moving to the music. She kept her home and car filled with music that provided lifelong inspiration to her children and grandchildren.
Lucy dedicated much of her adult life supporting the family business. While Dad was up front and center as the duck call maker, Mom kept much of the structure behind the scenes together. Among other things she kept the books, went to countless shows to be the cashier for over-the-counter sales and, of course, was the go-to snack-getter for those long days in the booth.
While finding time for all the things mentioned, much of her time was dedicated to the health and happiness of her children and in particular Matthew, related to his Cystic Fibrosis. From the moment he was diagnosed at six years old to the time until he was an adult, mom and dad would provide regular respiratory therapy treatments in 45–60-minute increments 2-3 times a day. There were medications and meal plans that she monitored constantly as well as daily drives from Novato to Palo Alto to visit Matt in the hospital on his regular 2-week stints in the hospital. A sweet nod of recognition from Matt when asked where he wanted to go to dinner while in the hospital would reply: “I think Lu wants to go to Marie Callender’s”.
Lucy spent many later years enjoying the presence of her three grandchildren, participating in all the activities and joys that come with being a grandmother. She is affectionately known by her grandkids as “Mom”.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years Emery Kirke Mitchell, son Jason and wife Cheryl, daughter Kathleen and husband Julian along with three grandchildren: Mateo, Cruz and Lucy. She was preceded in death by her son Matt, sisters Martha and Mary Jo, and brothers Robert, Tom, Francie and Jim.
Services will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Novato, California on Saturday March 28th at 11:00 AM with Father Felix Lim presiding. A celebration of life and lunch will follow in St. Anthony’s Hall immediately after Mass.