Wilma Lucille Mortellaro

Wilma Lucille Vernon Mortellaro, known by all as Lucille, was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas on March 1, 1925 to Elizabeth Cathcart Vernon Duke and Luther Vernon. Lucille went home to her Lord on December 5, 2010. Lucille grew up between Carrizo Springs and Fort Smith, Arkansas. The family moved to San Antonio while she was still young when her mother married Rudolph Duke who she referred to as Papa. He owned R.G. Duke and Sons produce trucking business. It was on a trip to the market with Grandpa Duke that Joe Mortellaro saw her and asked who she was. He was told that she was R.G. Duke’s daughter and he would be a tough man to deal with. Well, that did not deter Joe Mortellaro, he asked her for a date. He courted her and she agreed to marry him only if she could be his partner. Harnessed side by side to the plow, not walking two steps behind with her head down. Lucille and Joe were married on January 15, 1945 in the parsonage across the street from the home Joe had bought before the war. And so began their life that was a love story until Joe died in August 1973 after a long battle with cancer. From the beginning she worked not only as a homemaker, having dinner on the table at noon, but as a bookkeeper and assistant for Joe’s Fruit and Vegetables. From there they grew Mortellaro’s Nursery working, side by side. She retired in 2006 at the age of 81 from the three generation family business. The work was hard but the reward was having all her family around her including her great grandchildren and never having to drive to work. Lucille is survived by her only child Joanne M. Harden and son-in-law James Harden of Schertz, Texas; Grandsons James Harden, Jr. and Joe V. Harden and Joe’s wife Justene. Great Grandchildren Jack, Jessica and Melinda, children of James Jr. and Magdalena and Konrad, children of Joe; nephews Rudy and Jeff Vernon and Russell Biggs; nieces Susan and Molly Biggs as well as many cousins with whom she shared her childhood and her 85th birthday. She is preceded in death by her husband of 28 years Joe Mortellaro, her parents Rudolph and Elizabeth Duke and her brothers Charles Vernon and Bud Vernon. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 17, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at the Country Church in Marion , TX, 1101 FM 78 W. Burial will be private. Go to www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com to leave condolences for the family.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, San Antonio, TX.