Penelope Mitchell - Sweet Memories

Services are being held today for Penelope Mitchell, longtime guiding spirit of Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates in Cleveland Heights, a Northeast Ohio institution, since 1939. Greek immigrant Penelope Papaioannou joined her new husband Chris Mitchell’s candy business in 1949. They ran the shop as a team for over a half century, until Chris’s death in 2000, when their son William assumed most of the day-to-day duties. But, Penelope remained an active presence at the Lee Road store until recent years. She died this past weekend at the age of 97. --- David C. Barnett