Mercedes H. Alldredge Roelofs

Mercy was born Thursday, September 20, 1923 in Claremont California; delivered at home by a midwife named “Kika”. She was the 4th of 9 children, 8 girls and one boy. When a child she was blonde with amber eyes. Her parents, Antonio and Ygnacia Hermosillo, immigrated to the United States in 1917. They came from the small village of San Julian, Jalisco, in Mexico and never returned.

On Sept 3rd, 1929, just before her 6th birthday, the family’s home burned down leaving her parents and 7 children with very few possessions. After the fire, measurements of Mercy and her six siblings, ages from 11 years down to 4 months, were taken and the community got together to provide clothing for them.

Mercy told the story of a wealthy lady in the community who, shortly after the fire, showed up in a limousine being driven by a chauffeur. She approached Mercy’s father with a box of chocolates. When he opened the box he found chocolates and a $100 gold piece. It was with this money they started their new home. This home became known as “The Big House” or “The White House”. As she neared 100 she would often speak of this place. It was still home to her. She had so many good memories of growing up there with her brother and sisters. They were her best friends. The house is still there today.

She and her sisters were quite inventive. She explained a game they played with rocks. They would throw one rock in the air and grab another from the floor catching the first before it hit the floor. A game that might be recognized by some as Jacks. She said they used to pick flower petals and mix them with water to make “punch”. They also ate what they called “little cheeses”, which are the seed pods of the Mallow weed. She said they experimented a lot and it was a miracle they weren’t poisoned.

Mercy said she and her sisters were the church choir. They sang while the oldest, Mary, played the organ. Always well dressed the other young girls attending church were eager to see what the Hermosillo sisters would be wearing. Mercy didn’t find this out until years later.

Her family was the first in the neighborhood to have a radio, a washing machine and a car. The neighbors thought they were rich. Her father was the groundskeeper at Pomona College for 40 years. With so many in the family it required good money management at which her mother excelled.

At 16 Mercy rode a bike to work, babysitting and cleaning house for Mr. Frank Tiffany, a Hungarian immigrant and his, english teacher and wife, Lucy. Mr. Tiffany would later play a key role that would change her life.

Her mother died 3 days before her 18th birthday, September 17, 1941. As she rarely got into trouble her mischievous siblings gave her the nickname “Santita”, little saint. Which is probably why her mother, as she lay dying, asked her to take care of the youngest, Kelly, after she was gone.

Mr. Tiffany, an electrical researcher and perfector of the gamma ray machine, went to work at Lockheed in the research department. He told Mercy he wanted her to be able to better herself, so, in 1942 he helped her and her older sister Toni get jobs in the war plant. Mr. Tiffany, knowing her father would not want his daughters to go far from home, lied and told him that if he didn’t allow his daughters to work in the war plant they would be drafted as nurses into the army!

Mercy began working at Lockheed in Burbank on November 17, 1942. Her job was to cut small parts for the B17 Flying Fortress and P38 Lightning fighter aircraft. She was extremely shy at the time and very uncomfortable with the whistles coming from the men in the plant. Mercy commented recently that working there was one of the best things that ever happened to her. The men were actually very respectful of her and she was able to get over her extreme bashfulness.

On her first day there, as she walked to her station, a worker commented that he’d like to take her out. Another said, “She’s mine. I’m going to marry her.” And he did! He was Arthur Alldredge, 12 years her senior. They were married on September 25, 1944.

When Mercy and Toni could no longer carpool with Mr. Tiffany they moved to Burbank. They lived in half a house. Housing was limited during the war, so the owners divided the house giving the other tenants the kitchen. Mercy and her roommates, sister Toni and friend Lupe, had to get their water from outside.

Art and Mercy raised 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy. The oldest was Art’s daughter from a previous marriage but was Mercy’s just the same. Mercy’s first born was a son Arthur jr., followed by 2 daughters, Monica and Peggy.

Their marriage was a happy one and lasted until his death, 7 days after her 45th birthday and two days after their 24th anniversary. He was 57. Lately, when she would see a photo of him, she would say, “He was the best husband in the world. He treated me like a queen.”

Mercy made apricot and plum jams. Home grown boysenberries became pies and jams. Based on Art’s background she cooked midwestern and southern cuisine as well as Mexican. She was a seamstress, a gardener and liked to study ways to stay healthy. An animal lover and rescuer of strays. She jumped rope, played hide ’n seek and counted airplanes passing overhead at night with her granddaughters . Kind, compassionate and friendly; concerned about others and always ready to help. Loved to visit with friends and family. Planned family gatherings and Halloween parties.

She was a Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother. Aunt to 47 nieces and nephews. She was an awesome wife, mother and mother-in-law.

Even at 101 he had the ability to laugh at herself and her mistakes. Introducing her daughter as her mother would bring on her laughter when she realized her mistake.

She was one of those known as The Greatest Generation, and quite a lady.

She was loved by all.