Mildred Banal

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mildred Anne (Bailey) Banal, "Millie, Nani, Gigi", our loving mother, cherished grandmother, great-grandmother, and loyal friend, who entered into eternal rest on November 25, 2025, at the age of 87.

Millie was born in South Boston, MA to Ernest and Anne (Harrington) Bailey on December 13, 1937. She was raised in Southie, started her own family, and relocated to Middletown, RI in 1968.

She was a loving mother and fierce family advocate. Her greatest joys in life were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Family meant everything to her and she was the heart and soul of this clan. Second only to her family was her passion for the arts; she loved music, live entertainment, and any event that a family member was participating in. In her teen years, she snuck off to downtown Boston with her cousins and friends to experience some of the earliest Rock-n-Roll shows at the local theaters & dancehalls. After relocating to Rhode Island in 1968, she attended numerous Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals with family and friends. In the early 70s she took an active role in producing & directing community shows with her son's Boy Scout Troop #52. As she matured, she started attending musicals and plays throughout RI in addition to the occasional trip to NYC to experience Broadway's finest and highlighted with a trip to London, England. It was here across the pond that she saw Cats with her son & daughter-in-law and introduced two starry-eyed granddaughters to her love of theatre at a live performance of Peter Pan. Her love for music and live entertainment is a gift she passed on to all of her family. As her family grew, she enjoyed attending her family's multiple dance recitals, sporting events, band concerts, drama club performances, science fairs, art gallery showings, weddings, & graduations; there wasn't much that could hold her back from being present for the biggest family milestones both locally and remotely in Virginia Beach and Palo Alto. All of these events she captured and shared through her love of scrapbooking often fueled on Dunkin coffee and an assortment of donuts & pastries to complete the next book of cherished memories.

Millie was happily a full time mom and the self-proclaimed "Home Executive". However, when her youngest child was in high school, she wanted a new challenge; she enrolled & graduated from the local secretary school and started her professional career in 1985 as an Administrative Assistant & Payroll Specialist for Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, RI. She & her family were extremely proud of this accomplishment. Christmas Season was her favorite time of the year during her 13-year career and she took great pride in annually raising money and donations for needy families; she excelled at "encouraging" her colleagues, Engineers, Scientists, and Department Heads to give as much as possible or risk being added to her naughty list. It was here at NUWC that she met the love of her life "Her Bear", Joseph Ferranti; together they enjoyed frequent travels, nights at the theater, and many happy times with their blended families. She retired from NUWC in 1998 after suffering a stroke; her recovery & rehabilitation from this health challenge led her to becoming a founding member of the Newport Hospital Stroke Support/Survivor Group.

Mom's heart & door were always open to the extended family of friends that she considered "her boys & girls". Her dinner table was ready to squeeze in another setting, her shoulder was there to cry on, hugs were bountiful, and she was ready for that heart to heart talk. As loving as she was, she was a tough, stubborn, & proud Irish woman from Southie and be prepared if you "got her Irish up". Although she spent most her lifetime in Rhode Island, she proudly professed, "I'm Southie born and bred...Southie is my hometown!"

In addition to her parents, Millie was preceded in death by her brother, Conrad, her dear friend Marie Clark of South Boston, MA, and her loving companion of many years, Joseph Ferranti. She is survived by her children: Donald Mello & Norma of Virginia Beach, VA, Doreen (Mello) Schlackman of Narragansett, RI, Sharon (Mello) DeCosta & Michael of Portsmouth, RI, Patrice (Banal) Fester & Michael Wessel of Palo Alto, CA, Jodi Banal of Portsmouth, RI, and Kirt Banal & Tanya of Tiverton, RI. She is survived and most proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments: Christina, Danielle, Jennifer, Erica, Alexander, Jordan, Aidan, and Maeve; and her great grandchildren: Scott, Zach, Patrick, Dylan, and Maddison who will all continue her legacy. Lastly, Millie is survived by her dearest friend, Priscilla Kibildis of Davie, FL.

Calling hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. in St Lucy's Church, 909 West Main Rd, Middletown.

Burial will be private.