Son Rallies Support For Beloved Former Centennial Lanes Bartender

TINLEY PARK, IL — The son of a former, longtime bartender at Centennial Lanes in Tinley Park is looking to the community for support as she recovers from injuries following a fall.

Annette Mitchell was stepping out of a car July 4, when she fell, breaking her hip, shoulder, and femur, her son Tyler, 27, told Patch. The 63-year-old had been struggling with a failing hip for a decade, he said, and now after a plate and screws have been inserted, she faces a long recovery.

Mitchell is a familiar face to many, he said, after more than 20 years bartending at the Tinley bowling alley. She fought through her pain for more than half her time there, staying loyal to her customers and the job, he said. He started a GoFundMe in hopes of raising funds to offset the medical expenses and her stay in a rehabilitation facility, he said.

"She very much puts others before herself," Tyler said. "She doesn’t like the attention.

"She probably wanted to kick me when she found out about the GoFundMe, depending on how she heals up."

Mitchell is a longtime resident of Chicago Ridge. Tyler and his family live in Orland Park. Though they knew Mitchell badly needed a hip replacement, they kept delaying the inevitable, Tyler said. Mitchell resides with her husband who is retired, and his mother. She is the sole provider of the household, he noted.

"You can see why it wasn’t in the cards for the longest time," he said.

Mitchell left the bowling alley after a change in ownership, and went on to work at Roma Cafe in Worth. Customers from the bowling alley travel to see her often at the cafe, Tyler said. It's unclear when she'll be able to return to work.

Doctors on July 4 were able to place a plate and screws to stabilize her hip; her shoulder and femur will heal as broken bones do. In the meantime, he's trying to show her the same selflessness and care she's shown so many.

Mitchell served as caregiver for her mother, stepfather, and father-in-law, he said.

"She is a very strong woman, very strong-willed, incredibly caring," Tyler said. "Puts other people before herself."

While the medical measures addressed the injuries, it's still not quite what Tyler had hoped for for his mom.

"Still never got the hip replacement," he said, "but I guess it’s Band-Aided right now."

Tyler is quick to admit Mitchell would bat the attention away, but he wants to give those who love his mom a chance to support her in a time of need.

"She works her ass off," he said. "She probably doesn't love that I'm doing this."