Refugia "Mary" Maria Mercado

Refugia Maria Gutierrez, loving known as Mary Mercado and affectionately called Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma, passed away on July 22, 2025 at the age of 97. She departed this life surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary was born in Grand Forks, ND on Feb 20, 1928 the eldest child of Leonardo Gutierrez and Dolores Silva. Her family later settled in Dallas, TX where she would spend the majority of her life. Though she lived briefly in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and even Jamaica, Dallas was always the place she called home.

She attended St. Anne Catholic School, and education remained a lifelong priority for her. She had a servant’s heart, which guided her through many roles in life, but her greatest joy came from caring for and loving her family and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Leonardo Gutierrez and Dolores Silva, her younger brother, Frank Gutierrez, her caring husband, Roger Mercado, her cherished daughter, Victoria Mireles, and loving grandson, Jose Antonio (Joey) Gonzalez.

She was first married to Antonio Hernandez in 1947 in Dallas, TX and together they established a home and raised 6 children: Margaret “Mimi” Dolores Gonzales (Joe), Victoria “Vickie” Lenora Mireles (John), Evangeline “Angie” Works (Ronald), Edward “Eddie” Hernandez, Antonio “Tony” John Hernandez (Teresa) and Patricia “Patsy” Anne Hernandez. Later on in life, she found love again with Roger Mercado, with whom she built a joyful and meaningful life. Her family was her greatest pride and joy, caring for them was always her 1st priority. She cherished all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, creating a warm and welcoming home where everyone felt safe and deeply loved.

She was a devoted member of St. Monica Catholic Church where she served as a founding member of the Catholic Daughters Court of St. Faustina, #2478. During her 25 years of service, she held two officer positions: Financial Secretary and later Vice Regent. She found great joy as she helped and cared for those in need.

Her hobbies included reading and gardening. She read everything she could ger her hands on, even in her last days, she insisted on reading the newspaper from front to back. She had a special touch with plants and was loving known as the “plant whisperer”. She continued to tend to her small garden, and it seemed that every plant flourished under her care.

She was a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and she honored Him daily with words of encouragement, quiet acts of service, and genuine kindness. Though small in stature she will be remembered by all as persistent, independent, feisty, wise, gentle and endlessly loving.

She will be missed beyond measure and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her. Her memory lives on through the generations she nurtured, inspired, and deeply loved.