Long-time CRISPAZ volunteer succombs to brain tumor
Legacy of Sister Mary Jane "Juanita" Mitchell lives on in El Salvador

It was with extreme sadness that CRISPAZ learned of the passing of a beloved volunteer, Sister Mary Jane Mitchell, CSJ. She died July 27 of complications from a brain tumor. Sister Mary Jane was known in El Salvador as "Juanita" when she served as a longterm volunteer from 2001-04).

Her friend, Sister Eileen Daly, explained that Sister Mary Jane received treatment “and fought the good fight over the last five years, but the tumor and the treatment finally took her life. She loved her time in El Salvador," Sister Eileen said, "and she continued to be as supportive of CRISPAZ as possible over these years.”

This is the note that CRISPAZ El Salvador Country Coordinator, Antonio Canas, wrote to Sister Eileen when he learned of Sister Mary Jane's death:

The staff at CRISPAZ received with great sadness and dismay the news of the passing of Juanita, as she was known to us and the small community of San Francisco to which she gave her affection and support for several years.

Her generosity was unwavering even in the midst of her sickness, as she continued to raise funds to help the humble family with which she had lived and shared with in San Francisco. Thanks to this support, Jose – the deaf and dumb child whom she cared for with a maternal love, and for whom she provided medical attention and special education – has been able to resume treatment and return to school for children with disabilities.

I never met Juanita personally, although I heard talk of her untiring spirit of service from my collegues at CRISPAZ, a spirit she brought to the members of that community, particularly those most in need. When I went to meet Jose’s family, to let them know that Juanita had raised the money necessary for the child to receive medical attention and education for several years, I also saw the shack made of aluminum and wood where Juanita chose to sleep during those years in which she was a volunteer here in El Salvador. She did this despite the repeated requests from the host family that she stay with them in the main house.

During this same visit, one of Jose’s older sisters, with whom I spoke, told me about “Las Menchas,” a women’s movement in the community that Juanita organized to help improve their living conditions. I also heard other stories about her time in the community and her work there.

Now I must go again to this community, to give Jose’s family the sad news of her passing.

I want you to know that minutes after having received the news of her death, all of us at the CRISPAZ office decided to go visit the tomb of Msgr. Romero in the cathedral in San Salvador to pray for her and to give thanks for her life and her example. CRISPAZ considers it a privilege and a special grace to have had Juanita amongst our volunteers. With Christian simplicity, in the next few days, we will try to find some ways to make sure that her memory continues to be an inspiration and example for a new generation of volunteers.

Memorials in honor of Sister Mary Jane will go to support the CRISPAZ volunteer program. If you make a donation online, please e-mail Dennis@crispaz.org to indicate that this gift is a memorial for Sister Mary Jane. Or checks can be sent to CRISPAZ at 215 E. 14 Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.