Linda Senecal (Mancilla), 78, passed peacefully from this life early Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in her room at The Bluffs in Columbia.
She was born to Les and Betty Mancilla, Jan. 14, 1943, in Aurora, Ill.
Linda was a devoted mother of five and considered her children to be her life’s work and greatest accomplishments.
While raising her family in Owensville, Linda worked as a clerk at both Dollar General and True Value Hardware stores. Friends and neighbors looked forward to being greeted with her smiles and laughter. Linda was a devoted member of Owensville’s First Assembly of God Church where she shared her talents with numbers and music by serving as the church’s bookkeeper and song service leader. Later, when Linda moved back to Elgin, Ill., to be near her parents and siblings, she worked as a housekeeper at Elgin Mental Health Center where she was known to have a fervent work ethic and a tendency to sing and dance as she cleaned.
Linda was always prepared to share her song with those around her, even making a brief, one-time appearance with the Oak Ridge Boys at Silver Dollar City. She possessed the talent of creating magic in the mundane, making homemade Halloween costumes or a simple meal of tortillas and beans feel like acts of love rather than frugal necessities. She will always be remembered for her persistent faith in God’s goodness, her biscuits and gravy, and her unforgettable laugh.
Linda is survived by daughters, Susan (Rich) Senecal and Monica (Russ) Palmer; sons, Michael Senecal and Mark (Cindy) Senecal; ten grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. Linda was preceded in death by both parents and her beloved daughter Antoinette (Toni) and baby.
A private celebration of life was held Saturday, March 6, at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. A video of the service is available for viewing on the funeral home’s website at dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbia-mo/linda-senecal-10077856.
Memorial contributions suggested to to Alzheimer’s Association or Helping Hands Outreach Center in Linda’s honor.
