Mildred E. Hanby (always known as Millie) graduated peacefully on Tuesday September 24, 2024, after living several years with Dementia. Millie was born to parents Estelle M. Mayer and Joseph P. Balentine on April 12, 1933, the fifth of six children, just down the street from Brandywine Summit Camp in nearby Chadds Ford. Her grandfather Mayer lived almost next door so Millie spent lots of her childhood with him listening to Phillies Baseball and learning to play Poker with a large group of uncles and cousins. She lost her mother while still in high school while her older siblings had already moved out of the house.
She loved to dance and told her future husband that he had to learn to dance before they could date. He did learn so that he could catch that “beautiful blonde girl”. They married just weeks before her husband was called into military service in Korea. Millie had to wait two years for her man to return home, so they could start a family. Right away they built a house in north Wilmington where she raised her two children and lived most of the rest of her life. Millie remained a life-long Phillies fan, and became quite skilled at playing Black Jack on the slot machines at the casino. She also loved college football and knew the rules as well as any referee. Millie was an avid reader of romance novels, often reading more than one book at a time while watching a ball game.
Millie lived a very full life with her family, traveled throughout the country, and sailed on many cruise ships. She had a career with Delaware Trust as caretaker of vital trust records. After retiring, Millie was recruited to start a second career to monitor employee records at another bank, which merged into PNC Bank, where she retired again in 2003. After retiring, she spent many joyful days visiting local restaurants and shopping with her niece Eleanor. In her early life, she was a member of Elam United Methodist Church. Later she became a member of Chester Bethel United Methodist Church. For many years Millie was a member of Queen Esther Rebekkah Lodge where she served in numerous leadership positions. She also won a few trophies on a bowling league on a team with her neighbors. While in school, Millie had a brief career in modeling and continued to be very conscious of her clothes and hair, which remained blonde until the end. Although she was a fairly ordinary cook, she loved to bake. Her Brownies and Peach Dumplings were loved by many, but now her recipes are lost. Almost everyone refers to her as “a sweet little lady” and no other compliment is needed.
Besides her parents, she was pre-deceased by sister Stella Hasty and her husband Andrew, sister Sissy Ferguson and her husband Bob, sister Bernie Grunwell and her husband Skip, brother Joe Balentine and his wife Betty, and younger brother Richard Balentine. Millie is also pre-deceased by her husband of 47 years Clifford W. Hanby and her son Ronald K. Hanby and his wife Elaine Jena. Many of her friends and extended family are also no longer with us. Millie is survived by her son Gerry Hanby, several nieces and nephews, and three sisters-in-law.
At her request there will be no viewing and no formal funeral service. Grave-side service will be private and at the convenience of the family. Millie will be interred next to her husband and son in Chester Bethel Cemetery. Many thanks to the team at Harbor Chase where she has resided and was always well cared for during the past 5 years. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that everyone go out to dinner with your family and enjoy the time together.
