Popular personality finally opens up about heartbreaking reason she left WWE

A former WWE personality has finally opened up about the reason behind her departure from the Samford-based company in 2016. The name in question is Lilian Garcia.

The 58-year-old joined the wrestling promotion in 1999 as a ring announcer. Apart from announcing matches, she was also involved in several intriguing storylines until her departure in 2009. However, she inked a new deal with WWE two years later and spent five years before she left in 2016.

While speaking on Ten Count Media, Lilian Garcia opened up about her father's sickness. She stated that he was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer in March 2015. Garcia mentioned that she moved her father in with her.

"My father got really sick, and I took care of him. We found out at the end of 2015 that he's got bladder cancer, and I moved him in with me because the hospital in South Carolina where he lived had run out of options. I moved him in with me [in] March of 2016, and he was going to City of Hope, and they were trying all sorts of different experiments on him," she said. [From 03:10 to 03:33]

She added that in August 2016, her family found out that he had very little time left. Garcia stated she could not take the flight back to work and decided to take care of her father, who passed away later that year on Christmas Day. Lilian pointed out that she would have continued to be a part of WWE if not for the unfortunate circumstances, however, she knew she made the right choice.

"And then it was in August of 2016 that they said to us, they didn't tell him we wanted to keep it away from him. But they told my sister and I that he had two weeks to three months to live, and I just knew I couldn't get back on a plane. I knew that was it my sister and I went full on caretaking for him, and he ended up lasting five months. But he passed on Christmas Day in 2016, and I still look back, and I know I made the right decision." [From 03:35 to 04:07]

Check out the video below:

Lilian Garcia made a WWE appearance earlier this year

Despite leaving WWE in 2016, Lilian Garcia has made sporadic appearances over the years. The veteran announcer most recently showed up on WWE television earlier this year on Monday Night RAW.

On the May 13 edition of the red brand, Garcia showed up as a special guest ring announcer. RAW ring announcer Samantha Irvin asked the veteran to announce the King of the Ring tournament match between Gunther and Kofi Kingston. The Ring General won the bout and eventually went on to win the crown at King and Queen of the Ring.

Lilian Garcia is currently announcing for the Professional Fighters League. It remains to be seen if she will make another WWE appearance in the future.

While using any quotes from this article, please credit Ten Count Media and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling.