Dorothy Kaltofen Mitchell, 93 of Winter Park, FL passed away August 12, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Dorothy “Dot” was born June 21, 1930, in Boston, MA where she grew up a child of the Depression. The loving daughter of Mary Agnes (MacEachern) and Sylvester John Kaltofen. She was the oldest of three children and a doting big sister to her brothers, Junie and Ronnie. She graduated from Weymouth High School in 1949 and as a young woman worked at Woolworth’s candy counter, as a telephone operator, and volunteered and sang at the USO. She never lost her Boston accent even though it sometimes got her in trouble.
Dot married James Frances Driscoll in 1951 in Boston, MA and had three children. After her husband’s unexpected passing in early 1967 she married Capt. Earl W. Mitchell in 1968 and together they had a son. Dot was a loyal Marine Corp wife for over 20 years, living in many places around the US. After Earl’s return from Vietnam and retirement from the Marines, the family moved to Florida in the summer of 1970. They settled in the Union Park area of Orlando and later, in 1980 built a house and moved to Woodside Village in East Orlando where she considered herself a “mom” to the many kids in the neighborhood. Dot lived there until 2018.
Mrs. Mitchell worked as a teacher’s aide for many years for OCPS, ending her career at Ventura Elementary. She loved being a part of all school activities and was willing to dress the part so much so that she was once named Staff Member of the Year. The Mitchells were avid golfers, belonging to Wedgefield, Ventura, Rio Pinar, and Winter Park Pines golf clubs over many years. Dot always volunteered at the clubs working countless golf tournaments, club events and theme parties. She was very social and fun loving and enjoyed being involved with several Ladies Golfing Associations, the Red Hats, and neighborhood, school, and church activities where she made countless friends.
Dot loved to read, sing, play cards, doing arts and crafts and especially cooking. Her family spaghetti nights were not to be missed and her homemade whoopie pies, cheesecake and blueberry muffins were legend. She was known to frequently deliver treats unannounced to friends and family. She never missed any of her kids or grandkids’ activities and was still driving herself there until just a few years ago.
Dot’s legacy is one filled with love, kindness, generosity, and laughter. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who truly lived for her family. She is survived by three of her children, Mary (Dwight) Albee of Orlando, Jim (Melody) Mitchell of New Smyrna Beach and Bill (Lori) Mitchell of Maitland. Her five grandchildren Madison, Riley, Cory, Sydney, and Laine Mitchell. Brother Ronald (Ronnie) Kaltofen of St. Augustine, sister-in-law Linda (Bob) McArtor of Portland, ME, sister-in-law Christine Mitchell, Havelock, NC, and brother-in-law Paul (Annette) Driscoll, Revere, MA., many nieces, nephews, beloved friends, and her faithful dog Molly.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Sylvester (Kal) Kaltofen, brother Sylvester (Junie) Kaltofen Jr., husbands Ssgt. James F. Driscoll and Capt. Earl W. Mitchell, USMC and her daughter Kathleen (Kathy) F. Driscoll.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 5300 Old Howell Branch Rd, Winter Park, FL 32792 Friday, September 8, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with a Celebration of Life reception immediately following.
A private interment at Palm Cemetery, Winter Park, FL will take place at a later time.