Bonifacia Perez Vancil (Plainview)

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Bonifacia Vancil, 87, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview.

Rosary will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the funeral home.

Paz, as she was lovingly called, was born on June 5, 1935 in Naga, Cebu, Philippines to Abundo and Arcadia Perez. She was the second of 5 children. She graduated as Valedictorian, from Abellana High School at the age of 16. Shortly after graduation, she went to a vocational school to become a seamstress. She attended pre-law for 2 years. She shortly met and married Carl Lee Vancil at Sangley Point Naval Air Station in Cavite, Philippines. She settled down with her husband Carl in Palmdale, California upon his retirement from the Colorado Department of Corrections. They remained married until his passing in 2005. In 2012, Paz moved to Plainview, Texas to live with her daughter.

Paz was no stranger to work. She started working part time at the age of 5 at the local fish market. She had multiple part time jobs until her first full time as a dressmaker at the age of 16. She quit pre-law at 18 and followed her cousin to Cavite, Philippines to find work. She started working at a convenience store. Paz then started getting into supplying records for the juke boxes at the local hangouts. She saved money, sent money to her family and learned the ins and outs of business. By age 30, Paz owned 2 bars, a convenience store and a beauty parlor. After her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Navy, Paz and family moved back to her home town in Cebu, Philippines. In Cebu, she opened a beauty parlor, real estate agency and a travel agency. She proved to everyone that she could succeed with diligence, smarts and hard work.

Through all the ups and downs, troubles and triumphs of her life, Paz stated, she would do it all over again. When she was a child, she survived World War II, the Japanese occupation and the American liberation of the Philippines. She lived and supported her husband during the Vietnam war. She was brave upon learning of the passing of her son while in the Navy.

She was proud of the life she lived. She was proud of her children. She taught them and everyone she met life lessons. She loved telling stories of the good ole days. She taught her children to share their blessings, stating, “we will never be rich, but we will always have enough. God will provide. “Paz loved to travel. She went to all 50 states, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Guam, Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, and Bahamas. She wanted to see and experience the world she saw in pictures from an old set of Encyclopedia books.

Paz was known as the Diva. Hair done, nails done. Dressed to the nines. Did not know what casual meant. And of course, no one will forget her sunglasses, purses and shoes. All stemming from seeing a well dressed woman while selling fish at the fish market, promising herself, that’s going to be me one day. And like everything else, she did what she set out to do. Never boring, never tame, full of life, full of vigor. She was compassionate, brave, respected, beautiful, kind, and loyal. She treated everyone like family.

Paz was preceeded in death by her parents Abundo and Arcadia Perez. Her sister, Cayetana Arciaga and her brothers Teodoro, Dionisio and Conrado Perez all of Cebu Philippines. Her husband, Carl Lee Vancil and her son Reeder Charle Vancil.

She is survived by her daughters, Maria Tejano of Brisbane, Australia; Diane Morninstar Vancil of San Francisco, California; and Shalaine Gillette of Plainview, Texas. Grandchildren, Noemi Barker of Temescal Valley, California; Venus Malit of Brisbane, Australia; Valarie Vancil and Vincent Vancil of Cebu, Philippines. Great Grandchildren, Kevin Barker of California, Rain Malit and Winter Malit of Australia.