Carmella Amelia (Ella) Lillo Hall passed away peacefully Monday, November 27,2023, at the age of one hundred and two. Ella was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 27, 1921, to Maria Assunta and Angelo Lillo,thefourth of their five children.
One night during WWII, she went to a dance in Narragansett with some friends and met a handsome soldier from Alabama. She married Lyman James (Jim) Hall IIIon June 15, 1945;thus began a love story that lasted over fifty years until his passing in 1998.
Ella held various jobs during her marriage, but her main calling was as a devoted wife and mother who followed her husband as his career in broadcasting took them to North Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, and finally to Miami where they raised their daughters.
When Jim retired, they moved to Guntersville to be near their grandchildren. They lead an active retirement, exploring the area and as members of the American Legion, RSVP, and the Lake City Twirlers square dance club. After Jim’s passing, Ella remained active as an RSVP volunteer and chorus member, in the Red Hat Society, and in line dancing.A fiercely independent woman, Ella lived on her own until her passing. She traveled to Italy with a group of family members to celebrate her eightieth birthday and explore her ancestral home. Her ninetieth birthdaywas on the day ofthe tornadoes in 2011. The party went on as planned that weekend. Not to be out done, her one hundredth birthday came during the height of the covid pandemic. She celebrated with adrive-by party for friends and a family dinner attended by relatives from Huntsville, Dothan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and various parts of Florida. It was truly a highlight of her long life. When asked her secret to a long, healthy life, Ella replied, “Having a good, positive attitude and love and kindness to others.”
Ella was preceeded in death by her parents, Maria Assunta and Angelo Lillo;her husband, Jim; her siblings, Anna Nicatero, Mary DiRuzzo, Frank Lillo, and Elisa Mooradian; her son-in law, Joey Duncan; and her beloved grandson, Cody Duncan. She is survived by her daughters Rosalind Hall and Anita Duncan; her grandsons Brandon and Joey (Bo) Duncan; her great granddaughter Isla Jo Duncan, and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family is planning a celebration of life in the Spring.
