Anita A. (April) Mercier, age 89, a resident of Pelham, NH, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, surrounded by her family following a brief illness. For 33 years, she was the wife of the late Benoit A. Mercier who died in 1980.
She was born in Lowell, Dec. 13, 1918 a daughter of the late George and Josephine (Labrie) April.
Anita graduated from Lowell High School in 1937 and then went on to Lowell Commercial College. She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in Pelham.
Prior to her retirement she was employed as an office manager with the Friend Building Center of Lowell, for 22 years. Prior to that time she was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper at Lowell Shuttle Co., for 10 years.
Anita was a member of the Pelham, Dracut and Chelmsford Senior Centers, D'Youville Manor Ladies' Guild and was the past president and member of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Women's Sodality. She was also the treasurer of Jeanne Mance of Lowell and until recently, she was the president of the Cloverleaf Senior Bowling League for 15 years at Brunswick Lanes. Anita was a role model to fellow members at Curves in Pelham where she exercised.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed reading, bingo and spending time with her family and friends.
Anita is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Albert B. and Suzanne T. (Tanguay) Mercier of Pelham; two grandsons, David A. Mercier of New York and Timothy Mercier of Pelham; sisters-in-law, Anne Gionet of Palmeta, Fl, Lucille Tibbitts of Manchester, NH, and Evelyn Mercier of Lowell; a brother-in-law, Jean Mercier and his wife, Rita, of Palm Harbor, FL; also several nieces and nephews and dear, lifelong circle of friends from grammar school that she kept in contact and played cards with. She was the sister of the late Jeannette Lacerte and Reina Dixon.
Relatives and friends may call at the M. R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St., Lowell, on Sunday, Jan. 6 from 2 to 6pm. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning at 11 o'clock at St. Patrick's Church, Pelham. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to the VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell, PO Box 1965, Lowell Ma 01853.