Remedios "Remy" Mercado

Remedios “Remy” Mercado, age 85, passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at the Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville. She was born on November 14, 1932 in Manila, Philippines the daughter of Pedro de Ocampo and Patrocino Julio de Ocampo. She was united in marriage to Petty Officer First Class Leo H. Mercado, U.S. Navy (Retired) on December 23, 1956. He preceded her in death on July 22, 1997. They were married for 41 blissful years.

Remy graduated from the University of The East in 1956 majoring in Business Administration. She received a nursing degree from the Florida Keys Junior College in 1970 and worked as a nurse at The Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville retiring after 21 years. A devout Roman Catholic and grounded in her faith, Remy was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church and the St. Jude’s Circle. She was proud of her Filipino heritage and an active member of the Cavite Association of Jacksonville. She had many friends throughout the community and shared a special relationship with her extended brothers and sisters of her “First Friday” Lunch Club for many years. Her immediate and extended family was the most important part of her life and she will always be remembered as a beloved wife, mother, Lola, Tita, Ate, and Ninang. Remy was grateful for the friendship, love, and care of her extended family and kabayans over the forty years residing in Jacksonville.

She is survived by her two sons and spouses, Colonel Leo A. Mercado, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) and Captain Regina K. Mercado, U.S. Navy (Retired) of St James, North Carolina and Vernon "Vern" Mercado and Lucille Mercado of Concord, California; three grandchildren, Thomas Mercado, Esq. of Greenville, South Carolina, Julie Mercado of Greenville, South Carolina, and Genevieve Mercado of Sacramento, California; and two great-grandchildren, Jayden Mercado and Kumiko De La Paz of Sacramento, California; and a brother, Antonio Salazar of Valenzuela City, Philippines. Until her passing, Remy shared a devoted relationship for nineteen years with Octavo “Tavo” Andrade of Jacksonville, Florida.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Road N. Jacksonville, FL 32225.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 3383 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL 32277.

An Inurnment will be at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, 6921 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, FL at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December, 29, 2017.

Arrangements are under the care and directions of Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home & Cemetery, 850 St. Johns Bluff Road N. Jacksonville, FL 32225.