Lillie Mae Yanniello

Lillie Mae Yanniello, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and "Nana" was called by our Lord with her family at her side on January 8, 2011.

Mae was born in Paducah, Kentucky on March 25, 1925. She was the oldest of five children. She lived on a farm and helped raise her younger sisters. She married her high school sweetheart before he headed off to World War II. Sadly, he did not return and Mae was left to raise their son, Albert that her husband would never meet.

Mae moved to Miami Beach, Florida where in 1949 she met and married the love of her life, Anthony Thomas (Tom) Yanniello. They met on the beach and it was love at first sight. Mae held various jobs in her early days on Miami Beach - an elevator operator at one of South Beach's hotels as well as a model. Mae and Anthony had five beautiful children together.

Her children were her life. She never put herself first because her children always came first. She participated fully in every aspect of their lives attending various judo tournaments, baseball/basketball games, cheerleading, field trips, etc. The list goes on. She attended weekly services with her family at Holy Family Catholic Church in North Miami, Florida. She enjoyed being a part of the church and her children's' school working at the school carnivals, assisting at school lunches and helping with Bingo in the Parish Hall. Mae had many lifelong friends; many were made at Holy Family.

Mae and Tom loved going to the horse races. They actually owned a race horse once (that never did very well) and Saturdays were spent at the Turf Club. They also enjoyed Bingo; Tom was a caller while Mae worked the tables. She loved taking her children to Halouver Beach and packing picnic lunches. Tom loved surprising Mae with cars (Rivera's and Cadillac's) every now and then and she would pose in front of them in their North Miami Beach driveway! She never left the house without "her face on". They went to many "shows" at the Eden Roc and the Fontainebleau Hotel. She saw Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Tom Jones and Engelburt Humperdink. They loved to travel. Some of their getaways included taking a Chalks seaplane to the Bahamas; three-day cruises aboard the Discovery; Mexico; Key West; New Jersey; Virginia; California; Dallas, New York and even Caracas, Venezuela! One of Mae's favorite trips was not a far trip at all. She and Tom went to see Pope John Paul II in Miami, Florida. She was so thrilled.

Mae was a true fighter and strong-willed. Once she set her mind to do something it got done. She would paint the house, make curtains, paint the roof, mow the yard, rake leaves, plant beautiful rose bushes, make dinner, wipe away tears, teach you to drive, and so on. The list is endless. In 1984, Mae was faced with an awful tragedy; her son was killed in the line of duty while working patrol with the Broward County Sheriff's office. At the time she was in California visiting with her sister. Faithfully, every year, Mae & Tom attended their son's memorial services. Heartbreaking as it was, she never missed one. In 1996, Mae became a double amputee due to peripheral vascular disease. She fought hard to come back and live strong. That was in her spirit. To fight. She overcame this obstacle in her life and continued on loving her husband, children and grandchildren as only she knew how.

On their 50th Wedding Anniversary, a dream of hers came true - she and Tom were married at St. David's Catholic Church in Davie, Florida. She was a beautiful bride.

Eventually her children all settled in the Dallas, Texas area. Mae and Tom moved to Plano, Texas in 2007. She enjoyed being a part of her children's and grandchildren's lives. Nothing made her happier. She especially enjoyed watching the snow fall outside her window and would sit and watch it for hours.

Mae will be missed but never forgotten. Her spirit lives on in each of us. Everyone Mae has touched will be left with fond memories and special moments that will stay with them forever. She has left a great legacy. Be kind to others. Walk a path that you look back on with pride. Her legacy will continue to touch the world and grow through her love and strength that was taught to her family.

Mae is pre-deceased by her parents Ruben and Hazel, her sisters June and Betty, her son Tony, a Broward Sheriff's Office Deputy, and her grand-daughter Mary Elizabeth. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband Anthony Thomas (Tom), her brother Jerry and sister Carol, her children: Albert, Michael, Patrick, Thomas, and Katherine, her grandchildren: Michelle, Tina, Anthony, Christopher, David, Michael, Stephen, Christina, Jennifer, Kaitlin, Ashley and Tony and six great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends at a visitation on Friday, January 14, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Allen Family Funeral Options in Plano, Texas. A Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 11:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023. Reception following in the parish hall.

If desired, memorials may be made in Mae's name to the American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ncadv.org/donate.