Mercedes Anne Merenda died at Santa Teresa Community Hospital in
San Jose on June 22, 2004, surrounded by her family and close
friends.
Mercedes Anne Merenda died at Santa Teresa Community Hospital in San Jose on June 22, 2004, surrounded by her family and close friends.
Mrs. Merenda was of Portuguese decent and born in Atwater, on October 28, 1923.
She was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Parish.
In her earlier years, Mrs. Merenda was active in bridge club and was very involved in her son’s sports activities from grammar school through college.
She and her husband were stout San Francisco 49er fans and held season tickets for numerous years.
Mrs. Merenda enjoyed monthly luncheons with her sister Nori, nieces and close friends. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed gardening with her husband.
Holidays were very important to Mrs. Merenda and she treasured the Christmas holiday season, as she very much looked forward to her family traveling from near and far to celebrate the Christmas season together.
She will truly be missed by her family and many, many close friends.
Mrs. Merenda is survived by her son, James F. Merenda and daughter-in-law Annette Merenda.
She is the grandmother to four children, Jamie Merenda, Kathy Merenda Horton, Jimmy Peterson and Angel Fox.
Also surviving Mrs. Merenda are 12 great-grandchildren, Godchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Merenda came from a large family and leaves behind the last surviving sisters, Nori Goforth and Jackie Elliott. She also leaves behind sisters-in-law, Sue Serafin, Rose Caruso, Angie Kellar and Alice Merenda; and brothers-in-law, Joseph Merenda and Leo Goforth.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, James J. Merenda.
A rosary and vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m., at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 Fourth St., Gilroy, on Sunday evening June 27, 2004.
On Monday, June 28, 2004, there will be a funeral Mass celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 1 p.m., followed by interment at St. Mary Cemetery.
After Monday’s cemetery services there will be a “Celebration of Life” reception at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Gilroy. The event will be hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Nicholson, loving friends of Mrs. Merenda.
