Lillian Bancale

Lillian Pauline Bancale passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Waco, Texas surrounded by her family.  A memorial service will be held at the North Side Church of Christ in Bellmead on Monday, July 26, 2021, at 10:00 am.

Lillian was born in Lorena, Texas on July 20, 1941, to Ada Watkins and George Mitchell. She attended school at LaVega Independent School District and graduated in 1959. Lillian never lived more than 20 miles from her birthplace. She grew up and raised a family in Bellmead. Lillian met her husband, Phil, while she and two of her close friends were riding on Austin Ave.  Phil, an airman stationed at James Connally Airforce Base, was out with two of his close friends when they met Lillian and her friends.  All three couples from each car eventually married.  Phil and Lillian were married on February 3, 1962.  They were married for over 59 years at the time of her passing. Lillian worked at Amicable Life Insurance Company and Tejas Logistics (30 years).

Lillian’s granddaughter-in-law, Sarahi Carey, wrote of Lillian “A strong woman, a family woman…. She created a legacy… a family who loves you, and who is with you in every step of this journey.  With God and your family by your side anything is possible!”

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ada Mitchell, brothers William George Mitchell and his wife Claudia, and James Weldon Mitchell and his son, Jamie. She is survived by her children, Michael Bancale and wife Teresa, and Angela Carey and her husband Billy; her grandchildren, Jessica Bancale, Jennifer Mullins and her husband Keenan, Scott Bancale, Lauren Bancale and husband Josh Mayfield and Mitch Carey and wife Sarahi; great-grandchildren Makenzie and Kynleigh Brandt; Kaison, Brayson, Brayden, and Stella Mayfield; Danalynn and Maya Jackson, and Abigail Carey; and Sebastian Mullins. Lillian is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ernie and Jo Bancale and sister-in-laws Nancy Ramsey, Loraine Bancale, and Barbara VanWinkle as well close longtime friends, Reggie and Mary Olson, Betty Moore, Anita Carter and Dovie and Truman Burrows along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the La Vega Pirates Education Foundation, P. O. Box 154897, Waco, Texas 76715 or the American Cancer Society. Our family would like to thank the staff at the Baylor Scott & White McClinton Cancer Center, Baylor Scott & White Hospital (Hillcrest) and Baylor Scott & White Hospice for the attention they gave her.