Gloucester - Benedetta "Betty" (Pallazola) Mitchell died on Wednesday, May 13th.

Born in Gloucester, she was the daughter of Serafino and Mary (Vadala) Pallazola, and the wife of the late Paul Mitchell.

Betty and her brother, Joe and parents lived in the East Gloucester home of her maternal grandparents, Matteo and Josephine Vadala ("Nonno" and "Nonna"). It was like growing up with two sets of parents. She enjoyed spending time with her many cousins when they came to visit their "Nonno" and "Nonna".

Betty attributed her becoming a teacher to her grandmother, who gave her a love for learning and a respect for the teaching profession. A graduate of Bridgewater State College, she taught English for 21 years, retiring from Ipswich High School in 1984. One of the joys of her teaching career was mentoring college seniors who were preparing to become English teachers and supervising their student teaching experiences. She and her husband were invited to the weddings of many of her former students and were pleased to attend. The friendships that developed with former students lasted over many years.

She enjoyed taking long walks with her husband, a friend, or her father. On walks with her father, a retired Gloucester fisherman, he shared many stories of his seafaring days.

Betty and Paul were married in St. Peter's Church in 1979 and shared twenty-one years of marriage until his death in 2001.

She enjoyed traveling, knitting, crossword puzzles, and was a voracious reader of the works of Shakespeare and British and American classics, as well as the works of contemporary writers. She and Paul attended many performances of Shakespeare's works, as well as those of modern playwrights. She enjoyed classical music, symphonies, attending performances at Tanglewood, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Kenny Rogers, and the popular hits of the 50's and 60's.

She was an avid Red Sox fan. While she wished that Paul had lived to see the four Red Sox World Series Championships, especially the historic one of 2004, she was able to enjoy these with her brother Joe.

Betty enjoyed lunch out with friends, including monthly ladies' lunch with her classmates from the Gloucester High School class of 1959.

A parishioner of St. Peter's Church until its closing, she was active member of St. Peter's Woman's Sodality, a lector, and served on the parish council and other committees. When St. Peter's Church closed, she became a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her grandparents, and her beloved brother Joe. She is survived by dearly loved cousins and friends.

At Betty's request, there will be no visiting hours. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, 144 Prospect Street, Gloucester on Thursday, May 21st at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Betty's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/ 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Shriners Children's Hospital: https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en 2900 N Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, Our Lady of Good Voyage Church: 142 Prospect St., Gloucester, MA 01930, Kaplan Family Hospice House Danvers c/o Care Dimensions Hospice: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/xuihvw 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.