Erica Mitchell

Erica Lynn Mitchell, eleven year cancer survivor and Warrior Princess, age 29, of Otsego, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Port Jefferson, New York, passed into the arms of her creator Wednesday, November 4th at 1:45 PM. Erica was born May 21, 1980 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, where she died on Wednesday of pneumonia. Erica was a lover of music, languages and learning. She was a voracious reader who loved to travel. Erica was an excellent student who participated in the Academically Talented Youth Program at Kalamazoo College, was a Top Ten graduate from Otsego High School in 1998, and earned her Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan in 2003, even while being interrupted twice to battle osteosarcoma and recover from the amputation of her leg. Erica then attended Stony Brook University in New York. She had currently been working towards a Masters degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin. Erica was preceded in death by her Grandfather Delmer (Dick) Mitchell; her Aunts Michelle Chappell, Becky Mitchell, Janice Wright and Laurie Holloway; her Uncle Dan Mitchell, and her Cousin Ty Mitchell. She is survived by her parents Tim and Jennifer Mitchell of Otsego; her brother Grant (Jamie Abbott) of Lansing, Grandparents Mildred Mitchell of Plainwell and David and Marilyn Chappell of Otsego; Uncle David (Karla) Mitchell of Plainwell, Greg Chappell of Zillah, WA, Jeff (Char) Chappell of Plainwell, David (Mary Pawling) Chappell of Kalamazoo, Nancy (John) Eaton of Parchment, Joel (Cindy) Chappell of Otsego; many cousins and friends, including best friends Lisa Held of New York, Sarah McPherson of Otsego, and Jeannette Bayyapuneedi (cousin) of Parchment. Erica's family will be eternally grateful to their "medical family" Dr. Tina Elliott, Jean VanderMeulen R.N. and all the staff of KCMS-MSU Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic who helped Erica win her battle with cancer. Her family was honored by the loving care shown to Erica by Dr. Eric Feucht, Amy Schense R.N., and all the staff working in Bronson's Intensive Care Unit who did everything possible to save her life. Erica had been studying Judaism for the past several years; she and her parents were comforted by Rabbi Harvey Spivak of the Congregation of Moses, who helped to send her on her final journey. Visitation for Erica will be held at Winkel Funeral Home Otsego on Monday, November 9, 2009 from 1 to 3 PM and 7 to 9 PM, where the funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the American Cancer Society or to KCMS-PHO for the children's "Toy Closet" at Dr. Elliott's office.