Dionicio “Nicho” Mancillas was born on September 7, 1925, and passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, surrounded by the love of family and friends. A lifelong resident of San Benito, Texas, he attended local schools and graduated from San Benito High School in 1943. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army Air Corp and served in Pacific Theater during World War II. In 1946, he received an honorable discharge from the military and returned home to San Benito. In January 1947, he enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, TX. The early death of his father brought him back to the Valley. He chose to stay at home and help run the family business, D.G. Mancillas General Store. In 1963, he enrolled at Pan American College where he received a B.S. in Social Work. Nicho became a teacher with San Benito ISD where he taught for twenty years. When he retired from SBISD he taught Conversational Spanish Classes at TSTC in Harlingen, TX. He was a parishioner of St. Benedict Catholic Church and St. Theresa Catholic Church. He served as sacristan at St. Theresa’s from 1996-2002 under the guidance of Fr. Pat Seitz, his good friend. Nicho is preceded in death by his parents, Dionicio G. Mancillas and Adelaida Hernandez Mancillas; his stepmother, Concepcion Villarreal Mancillas; his brother and sister-in-law, Amadeo and Arminda Mancillas, seven siblings who died in infancy; and his niece-in-law, Marta Alvarez Mancillas. Nicho is survived by his nephew and niece, Hector (Deolinda) Mancillas and Hilda Mancillas; his goddaughter, Norma (Eddie) Woodard; his “spiritual son” Fr. Pat Seitz; his grandnieces: Amanda Mancillas, Andrea (Alfonso) Cabanas, and Alyssa (Isaac) Martinez. He is also survived by seven great-great grandnephews and nieces. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with recitation of the rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, TX. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church located in San Benito, TX followed by interment at Mont Meta Cemetery. Honored to be serving as pallbearers are Carlos Agado, Hector Mancillas, Juan Nieves, Richard Rodriguez, Rudy Rodriguez, and Eddie Woodard. The Family would like to thank the staffs at Spanish Meadows and Golden Palms Healthcare Facilities for their care of Nicho during these past sixteen months. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort or sympathy cards to the family of Dionicio (Nicho) Mancillas at: www.thomaegarza.com In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Nicho’s name to St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church in Edcouch, TX. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home, 395 S Sam Houston Blvd, San Benito, TX 78586. (956) 399-1331