Lucille Marie Mischel

Lucille "Luci" Marie Smith Mischel, 80, of Shoreview, MN died peacefully on 5/26/2025 following a 13-year decline from Parkinson's disease and related dementia. Luci was born 4/3/1945 to Raymond and Marguerite Smith in Sumter, South Carolina. She was the eldest of 11 children. During her childhood Luci and her family moved frequently within Minnesota and later North Dakota. After graduating from Roseau High School in 1963, Luci studied elementary education at University of North Dakota-Grand Forks and Mary College in Bismarck, ND. While in Spanish class at UND-Grand Forks, she met a fellow named Greg Mischel. The two began a conversation that continued for two years in written form while Greg completed his Peace Corps service in Cote d'Ivoire, Africa. Upon his return, Luci and Greg married in 1968, moving to East Lansing, MI where she taught elementary school and Greg completed his master's degree in French at Michigan State. Following Greg's graduation, the pair moved to Two Harbors, Minnesota where they raised a family of four girls and a couple of cats, Leroy and Desiree. Luci chose to be an at-home mother to her daughters for many years, putting her career on hold, and enjoyed her return to the classroom to teach once her daughters were well into school. She cherished teaching children to love reading and learning. After retirement, she and Greg spent several years in Hampstead, North Carolina to escape the 40+ years of Northeastern Minnesota winters (the horror!), returning to Minnesota in 2019 to be closer to family. Luci showed her love through gifts of service. She made countless batches of baked goods for church functions at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Two Harbors. Her faith was integral to her identity. She enjoyed attending retreats and had an active spiritual life. Luci loved to create, serve and eat delicious food. She had a special designation of "Golden Tongue" for foods that were "worth every calorie" to eat. Luci was a creative person, knitting sweaters, sewing clothes for her daughters (including several formal dresses), other crafts and refinishing furniture and woodwork in their 100-year old home. She loved going on walks by Lake Superior but was not a fan of camping or mosquitoes. She enjoyed music and made sure all her daughters learned how to play piano - and how to swim. Luci was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2012 and gradually lost her ability to continue the activities she so loved. She was a talkative and animated woman who slowly grew silent and still from her neurologic disease. We have missed her voice, her chatty self and honest assessment of things. Luci was predeceased by her parents, Marguerite and Raymond, her sisters Martha (Marti), Roseanne, and brothers Richard (Rick) and Robert (Bob), and granddaughter Clara Haller. She is survived by siblings Margaret Smith, Patti (Merton) Horne, Michael (Judy) Smith, Paul (Agatha) Smith, Angie (Ron) Kimmel, and W. Thomas (Jan) Willette and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Greg; and their daughters Holly (Allen) Mischel-Moe, Anne-Marie Mischel, Aimee (Mike) Gianoukos, and Rebecca Mischel; and grandchildren Madeleine and Katherine Moe; Emmett and Linnea Haller (and their father John Haller); Jack, Alex and Sydney Gianoukos; and Isla and Lochlan Downard (and their father Ian Downard). Luci felt strongly that meaning is not derived from material possessions. Memorials may be sent to HealthPartners Hospice, the Parkinson's Foundation, or Catholic Charities. Luci's family are deeply grateful to the staff at Harbor Crossing in White Bear Lake, Arthur's Senior Living-Shoreview and HealthPartners Hospice for their loving care and support to Luci and her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Thursday August 21, 2025 at the Church of St Peter in Mendota, Minnesota, preceded by visitation at 10 am. A private internment will follow.

Tributes

Lucille Marie Mischel

April 3, 1945 - May 26, 2025

Tributes

Lucille Marie Mischel

April 3, 1945 - May 26, 2025

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