Mary Jane Miranda

On the morning of March 20 2024, Mary Jane Miranda (Mitchell) passed away peacefully. Mary Jane Mitchell was born on April 14, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan where her father was working as the Headmaster of the American School. She returned to the United States as an infant and grew up in New England living in Burlington, VT Provincetown, MA, East Hampton Massachusetts, and Haynesville, ME Mary Jane was the Salutatorian of Ricker Classical Institute in Houlton, ME, and then attended the University of Maine, in Orono. She transferred to Boston University where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While at University of Maine, Mary Jane met Rolando Miranda a foreign student from Chile. Rolando and Mary Jane were wed on June 16, 1956 and enjoyed 63 years of married life. They purchased their first home in Jefferson, New Hampshire and then moved to Bangor, Maine in 1958. After a move to nearby Veazie, they started their family, and were joined by their son Ricardo in 1960, and their daughter Victoria in 1962. In 1963, Mary Jane and the family moved to Arecibo Puerto Rico where they lived for three years. In 1966, the Miranda family came to Plattsburgh NY where Mary Jane spent the remaining 58 years of her life. Mary Jane was the heart of the Miranda family that grew to include many foreign students from SUNY Plattsburgh from all over the world. Some of these students kept in touch and their visits to Lorraine Street were treasured moments for all. Mary Jane joined the Unitarian Fellowship in 1966, and valued the many friends she had there. She served as an officer and participated on several committees over the years. After the fall of Saigon Vietnam, she was instrumental in arranging for the Interfaith Council of Plattsburgh to sponsor the Nguyen family, who happily relocated to Plattsburgh. Mary Jane also volunteered with the Council of the Arts, the League of Women Voters, the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf, and participated in fund drives for the American Cancer Society, the Red Cross, and the March of Dimes, among others. In 1971, Mary Jane returned to work as a Nursing Professor at the Champlain Valley Hospital School of Nursing, which eventually was acquired Clinton Community College. Shortly after starting to teach, Mary Jane enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh and completed a Masters of Arts in Education in 1977. When the Nursing School moved to Clinton Community College, Mary Jane and a few of her fellow nursing teachers commuted to Russell Sage College in Albany, New York where she received a Master’s Degree in Nursing. Mary Jane loved her family, neighbors, friends, and the Plattsburgh Community. She was admired and respected for being a special person who took the time to let people know how much she cared for them. Foreign students and nursing students, among others, remarked on how she changed their lives. She visited her friends in their homes and assisted living, advocated for their healthcare when asked, and drove them to medical and social appointments right up to her last month with us. Mary Jane cherished her son, daughter and grandchildren, and supported them faithfully in their pursuits. She is survived by her son Ricardo Miranda, her daughter Victoria Doran (Scott Doran), and five grandchildren: Katelyn Doran, Andrew Doran, Benjamin Doran, Alessandra Miranda, and Gabriella Miranda. Mary Jane was predeceased by her husband Rolando Miranda, her father Charles Mitchell, her mother Ethel Mitchell, her siblings Shirley Farmer, Charles Mitchell Jr., John Mitchell, and Donald Mitchell, her son-in-law Scott Doran, and her granddaughter Jessica Doran. The Miranda family would welcome notes of remembrance sharing memories of Mary Jane. They may be sent to 27 Lorraine Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Memorial donations may be made to the Unitarian Fellowship of Plattsburgh or the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf A celebration of Mary Jane’s life is being planned for the future.