Mercedes E. Giannini

February 24, 1922 to November 4, 2011

Mercedes Elaine Giannini died peacefully after a brief illness on November 4, at the age of 89. Mrs. Giannini is survived by her husband of 67 years, retired Superior Court Judge Peter Giannini. She is also survived by her six children – Peter, Paul, Christine, Gina, Joyce and Sharon – her daughter-in-law Ilana, sons-in-law Rob and Ahmad; as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Born in Gridley and raised in Oakland, California, Mercedes was a graduate of UC Berkeley and attended Boalt Hall Law School. Known affectionately as Meche, she volunteered for 25 years at UCLA auxiliary. A dedicated and prayerful Catholic, she was a lector at Mass for ten years. She was an outdoorswoman who loved camping in the redwoods and received several top awards for her legendary prowess as a fisherman. She also enjoyed world travel, gourmet cooking, fine dining, ballroom dancing, bird watching, flowers and the color purple. She poured out her life for others, especially her family, for whom she was “Love Incarnate.”