Jesús C. Mercado
Dec. 25, 1927 – Nov. 14, 2017

Jesús C. Mercado, affectionately known as Sra. Mercado, was born in Riverside, California on Christmas Day 1927. She was the 6th child in a family of nine. She spent her childhood in Mexico City until her uncle brought her and some of her siblings back to the US to work. The family settled in the San Juan Capistrano area where she worked on the farm fields and where she met her future husband, Pete Mercado. Through hard work and sacrifice, the couple bought one of the original homes in the hills of Dana Point. They had four children, Teresa, Rosa, Virginia and Francisco Javier, 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Sra. Mercado was one of the pioneers of the Hispanic Ministry of San Felipe de Jesús Church in Capo Beach and of St. Edward the Confessor Church in Dana Point. She did everything she could for the reign of God, from teaching catechism, to Quinceañera preparations, to sewing costumes for the fiestas, to making tamales to support the building funds, to being there for the needy. For many years she was part of La Búsqueda of Orange County, where she gained notoriety as the firm but kind kitchen leader on many weekend retreats.

Sra. Mercado, you are loved. May you rest in peace.