Mercedes Mercy Llanso Arias

Mercy was born in Havana, Cuba in 1920 to Isabel del Barrio and Enrique Llanso, a prominent lawyer in Cuba. She was the oldest of three girls. She went to Mt. St. Joseph High School in Philadelphia. Mercy met and married Jose Arias in 1942. They had three daughters and one son and lived in Havana and Guantanamo where they had a sugar mill. In 1960 the Cuban revolution forced the family into exile to the United States. In Jacksonville, Mercy taught in the catholic school system for several years. After teaching she worked for many years with Southside Orthopedics until she retired. She was active in Prince of Peace Catholic Church and visited several nursing homes on a weekly basis. Traveling, reading, gardening and entertaining were her main interests.

She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, and her two sisters, Isabel de Leon Belloc and Silvia Puente. She is survived by her children, Mercy and Tom Joyce of Lake Mary, FL, Margarita and Bill Mark of Fairfax, VA, Vivian and Jorge Casteleiro of Vienna, VA, Antonio Arias of Jacksonville, FL; five grandchildren, Juan Carlos and Carolyn Alvarez, Daniel Mark, Vivian and Pat Hayes, Nicholas Mark, Isabel and Charlie Cottrell; and four great-grandchildren,

Angela, Lyle and Katherine Alvarez, and Maria Mercedes Hayes.

Mercy was a remarkable woman who went through drastic and tragic changes in her lifetime. She kept a positive and joyful heart keeping her family together and motivating them to great success and happiness in their own lives.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9800 Baymeadows Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32256, followed by interment in Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.