Mary Regina Foy Hoover Mitchell

On January 10, 2019, Mary Regina Foy Hoover Mitchell exchanged her cross for her crown.  She was born on June 12, 1940 in Kane, PA and was the daughter of Francis “Fuzz” Foy (deceased) and Theda E. (Schettler) Foy, of Oil City, PA.  She attended North Clarion Area schools until 10th grade and graduated from Cranberry High School in 1958.  On August 26, 1961 she married Gerald (Joe) Hoover.  Together they operated several businesses in the Cranberry area, including Hoover’s Frosty Flavor, and Hoover’s Autobody.   But of all their success and accomplishments the most treasured were the three beautiful daughters they shared, Marisa (Hoover) Smith (Chris) of Edinboro, PA, Katyna Hoover of Lehigh Acres, FL, and JoEla (Hoover) Ramjit of North Ft. Myers, FL.  In 1987, they moved to Ft. Myers, FL.  They shared 34 years of marriage before his death in 1996. 

For her whole life she embraced the role of nurturer, friend, and protector for all she cared for.  Upon her arrival in Ft. Myers, she took this a step further by graduating from the certified nursing program at Lee County Vocational School.  She worked as a CNA for various home health agencies as well as had several patients whom she cared for privately throughout the years. 

On October 21, 2000, she married Louis Mitchell of Cape Coral, FL.  She was fortunate to share 14 years of marriage and a second chance at love with him before he passed in May 2015.  From her second marriage she was blessed with her step-daughter Tiffany (Mitchell) Green (Jeb) of Chesapeake, VA, whom she embraced lovingly with great pride.

She attended Mass at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Lehigh Acres until she moved to Horizon Village Retirement Community in N. Ft. Myers.  While residing there, she was active in their ladies lunch and prayer group, and received the Holy Eucharist weekly.  Mary gained great strength and comfort from her relationship with Christ.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by 9 grandchildren that she loved with all of her heart, Anthony (Tony) Parise and Abigail (Abby) Hayhurst-Ricciardi of Lehigh Acres, FL, Luis Sanabria, Carl Joseph (CJ) and Mya Ramjit of Cape Coral, FL, Makenzie Goss, Bailey and Cole Smith of Edinboro, PA, and Dax Green of Chesapeake, VA, as well as two great-grandsons who lit up her world, Declan Olguin and Leo Sanabria of Ft. Myers, FL.

She is also survived by a brother, Jim Foy (Carol), of Franklin, PA and a sister, Sandra (Foy) Stahlman (Bob) of Homosassa, FL;  Brother-in-laws  Jim Hoover (Kathy) of Seneca, PA, and Rev. David Dick (Celia) of Greenwood, IN, and  Sister-in-law, Nancy Turcotte of Spartansburg, PA.  She was loved tremendously by several nieces and nephews and their families.

She shared a close friendship with Betty Bennett who lived near her and helped her immensely through her last years, for which her family is eternally grateful.

Mary suffered for years from severe scleroderma and Reynaud’s syndrome, but you would never know the pain she endured as she lived life full of joy.  Anyone who had the honor of knowing her will surely smile anytime she is thought of.  Her ability to conquer the hard times with gratitude and laughter will live on in those that she has left because of her inspiration. 

Besides being preceded in death by her father and husbands, she was also greeted in eternal life by her brother Kenneth F. Foy, brothers in law Dennis Dick and Walter Turcotte, sister in law Jackie Hoover, niece Kelly (Stranford) Wasser, a great niece Brook Stranford and her nephews Bobby and Marc Stahlman, whom heard music to their ears at the sound of her contagious laughter and rested in another of her long awaited warm hugs. 

A memorial celebration will be held on Sunday January 20, 2019 at 1:00 PM in the clubhouse at Horizon Village, 9200 Littleton Road, N. Fort Myers, FL 33903.

A celebration of life is being planned for summer 2019 in the Oil City, PA area.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Regina Foy Hoover Mitchell, please visit our floral store.