Obituary: Carol (Kosnow) Mitchell

Carol (Kosnow) Mitchell, Psychotherapist and Peace Advocate, Dies at 80

Carol (Kosnow) Mitchell, a longtime psychotherapist, peace activist, and beloved family matriarch, died on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. She was 80.

Born on February 3, 1946, in Bayonne, New Jersey, Mitchell was the eldest of six children of Joseph and Concetta "Tina" (Colello) Kosnow. She moved to Maine during her school years, attending St. Patrick's Catholic School and Cathedral High School in Portland, where she received her early education through the parochial school system. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in Standish, Maine.

Mitchell raised her family before returning to her studies with a determination that characterized her approach to life. She earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College and later completed a postgraduate degree in family therapy at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.

After completing her clinical training, Mitchell held internships at Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center in Waterville and at the Togus Veterans Hospital in Augusta before establishing a private psychotherapy practice. For nearly 30 years, she worked as a licensed clinical social worker, helping countless clients navigate their mental health challenges. Colleagues and family alike described her work as a calling, noting that she had a gift for connecting with people and guiding them through difficult periods in their lives.

Beyond her clinical career, Mitchell was deeply committed to peace activism and social justice. She was heavily involved with Pax Christi and Catholic Charities in Waterville, working to promote nonviolence and the teachings of Jesus both locally and abroad. Her advocacy took her on several international trips, including to Mexico, Nicaragua, and Medjugorje in Bosnia. Closer to home, she played a key role in establishing a weekend soup kitchen at Notre Dame Parish in Waterville, working alongside close friends Diane Bryan and Joan Sandy to bring the project to life.

Mitchell also had a lifelong love of gardening, which she pursued with the same energy and care she brought to her professional and volunteer work. At her home in Winslow, Maine, she cultivated a lush garden filled with flowers, shrubs, and plants of many varieties — a peaceful retreat she shared with family and friends. Even after moving to Worcester, where mobility issues eventually made large-scale gardening more difficult, she adapted by creating smaller garden spaces in raised planter boxes on her deck and pergola. The gardens attracted a variety of birds, and she took great pleasure in watching them visit.

Mitchell was also an avid games player who enjoyed Words with Friends, Scrabble, puzzles, and card games with anyone willing to play. She had a natural talent for hosting gatherings at her home, a tradition she continued right up until the end of her life, even as her health declined.

Mitchell is survived by her husband of 58 years, Richard C. Mitchell; her two children, Heather Mitchell of Worcester and Dr. Jamie Mitchell and his wife Lori of Tampa, Florida; and her two grandchildren, Noah and Alessandra Mitchell of Ohio. She is also survived by four siblings: Joseph Kosnow of Old Town, Kathleen Kosnow of Portland, John Kosnow of Thomaston, and Laurie Morris of Portland, along with several nieces, nephews, and an extended network of family and close friends. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Dianne Allen of Charlestown, New Hampshire.

Her family has expressed gratitude to the many people who supported her in recent years, particularly as health challenges and limited mobility made daily life more difficult. They singled out cousins Arthur "Junior" Sears and Patty-Jo Walton, as well as friends Dennis Anderson and Robert Letourneau, for the companionship, care, and engagement they provided.

A celebration of life will be held on June 28 at 1 p.m. at Sonoma Restaurant at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester for friends and family in Massachusetts. A memorial Mass is also planned for St. Peter's Catholic Church in Portland, with a reception to follow; the date and time for that service will be announced at a later date. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association or the Worcester County Food Bank. The Callahan, Fay and Caswell Life Celebration Home in Worcester is handling arrangements.