Mariane Lylian Mitchell was born on October 14, 1935, in Milwaukee, WI to Walter and Mabel Marchant and passed away on September 3, 2023, at the age of 87 years. Wife of the late Aulden Mitchell. Mother of the late Cynthia Jean Mitchell, Melinda Ann (Brian) Sas, Rebecca Lynn Mitchell MD, and the late Jennifer Joy Moorse. Grandmother to Heather Jean Sas, Kevin Brian Sas, Jessica Ann Sas (husband AJ Wagner), and Mitchell Moorse son of the late Jennifer Moorse. Mariane was a young bride and mother, and her life was spent nurturing and caring for her children and grandchildren.
Mariane devoted her life to the service of others through her membership at Garfield Baptist Church in Wauwatosa (now part of Spring Creek Church) for 60 years. She sang in the choir, taught 3-year-old Sunday School for 35 years, and was an AWANA leader for 10 years encouraging youth discipleship. She was also a member of the King’s Sons and Daughters, a group of individuals from the church who socialized and made sure everyone was remembered on their birthday. Mariane hosted many Sunday night socials for her daughters’ high school groups and every year at the Mother and Daughter Springtime Tea, she would bring out the wedding dresses of her family (four generations) and plan a fashion show with the meal, decorations, and programs. Many looked forward to this annual event. Mariane’s fervent prayers were that her grandchildren would also find faith and follow the path of Scripture.
As a child, Mariane developed a love for travel and was able to see the US from passenger trains accompanied by her parents as her father was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad and had the privilege to travel at no cost. She had visited 49 states by the age of 19. She continued the family legacy of travel, participating in many car trips to the east and west coasts before the development of the interstate system. These trips were undertaken by Aulden and Mariane with the girls along in the backseat. Needless to say, there are many stories of adventures and mishaps. Her grandchildren are inspired by her love of travel and follow in her footsteps as all of them have traveled throughout the country and world. Grandson Kevin competes in ultramarathons (50 to 240 miles), visiting many sites in the state and worldwide.
Mariane’s additional activities included her time as a leader with Girl Scouts in the Brownie and Junior levels. She did not enjoy camping but did take her troops overnight camping, never sleeping the entire night. She was awarded a silver tray for 25 years of service in scouting. A beloved social outlet was the neighborhood Garden Club. Her thumb was brown, but she always made an effort with her planters on the front porch. Every year they were decked out for spring and covered in lights at Christmas. This group of women and husbands have been friends for 60 plus years. Another important social outlet was the Sewing Club that met monthly for 50 years. Mariane could not sew a button on but made up for it by serving as the social chairwoman. (Not much sewing was done at these meetings as one of her daughter’s who is a seamstress, found out when she went to the meeting with sewing to do.) The true purpose of the club was to enjoy each other’s company and friendship. Mariane was a proud Daughter of the American Revolution. Her aunt Muriel Marchant performed the research work to verify the family link to the American Revolution and Mariane became active in the Milwaukee DAR chapter, making sure each of her grandchildren were added to the membership. Additionally, Mariane was a great bowler and even had trophies to prove it. The grandchildren enjoyed the fun competitions on the lanes with grandma.
As her daughters grew up, Mariane returned to the workforce taking a position as office manager of a small heating company. As opportunities came along, she joined Werey Travel Agency where she arranged motor coach trips, traveling with her groups from one side of the country to the other. She even ventured to the ice fields of British Columbia with her guests. Almost every month she was on a new adventure for ten years. She always had interesting historical facts about what her groups were seeing and developed interactive trivia to play while traveling. During her 68 years of marriage to Aulden, the couple owned three different rental properties and they performed all maintenance themselves. Aulden was frequently traveling for his career, leaving Mariane to manage all aspects of the properties with her four daughters in tow.
Grandma was part of each grandchild’s’ activities in whatever interest they had including sports and music. She traveled extensively to participate and support her grandchildren in their endeavors and always brought her satchel of games, Chinese checkers, Know Your America, and trivia to play in the down times. She loved to win with a smile. Mariane excelled at developing lifelong friendships. Three of her bridesmaids were friends for life and many of her classmates from Wauwatosa High School remained friends throughout her entire life. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Visitation for Mariane will take place from 2 PM until the time of the funeral service at 3 PM on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa with Pastor Tom Price officiating. Interment will take place in Highland Memorial Park in New Berlin at 10 AM on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never parish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.
John 14:2 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it was not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
