Miguel Mercado Obituary (1927 - 2022)

Miguel Mercado February 8, 1927 - November 25, 2022 The Mercado family is saddened to share the passing of Miguel Mercado, beloved father, grandfather and husband. We are forever grateful to God for his peaceful passing at the age of 95 on Thursday, November 25, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, four children, nine grandchildren, an extensive family and so many friends. Born in Aranza, Michoacan, Mexico on February 8 of 1927, his home languages included Spanish and Purepecha. He was the firstborn of four children to Julian and Leonor Mercado. The years our father lived on this earth were full of blessings, tribulations, fortitude, and love. At a very young age he lost his father to liver disease. As the eldest, he was confronted with the need to provide for his family and chose to travel north. His journey was met with many challenges and hardships as a poor and undocumented field worker. His work took him to many farming towns in California where he worked endless hours for more than 57 years, growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables in order to provide for his family. His physical body became a reflection of his backbreaking work - his hands were weathered, his knees arthritic, and his feet worn and weary. Yet, he never complained of this work and was proud to provide a good living for his wife and children. His work ethic and loyalty earned him a deep respect from his supervisors and fellow workers. It also gained him the support of a local farm owner who sponsored him to obtain residency in the United States. He was so proud for this opportunity to offer a better future for his children and generations to come. Although he was only given the opportunity to complete a second grade education, his intelligence for business and languages was incredible. In addition to his native languages, he also learned English as well as Tagalog from his fellow Filipino friends, and displayed an ease for mental math and entrepreneurship. He lived a humble life with gratitude and appreciation for the abundant blessings bestowed upon his family. He committed his life to teaching his children about discipline, integrity, and respect. He lovingly role modeled and taught us about repentance, forgiveness, faith, and gratitude. He was pleased to see his family succeed in school and live a strong work ethic. He believed his children and grandchildren were a tribute to a lifetime of arduous challenges he worked to overcome. He rejoiced and celebrated the successes of his loved ones. He believed his crown and riches were in the well-being and health of his family. During the last years of his life he found solace and strength in prayer and meditation. He welcomed with an open heart the next phase of his life knowing that his work on earth was complete. He will remain in our hearts, forever grateful for the sacrifices he made to bring us to the rich harvest of our present lives. Rest in peace our loved father, grandfather and husband. ****************** La familia Mercado se entristece de compartir el fallecimiento de Miguel Mercado, amado padre, abuelo, y esposo. Estaremos eternamente agradecidos a Dios por su fallecimiento tranquilo a la edad de 95 anos el jueves, 25 de noviembre de 2022. Le sobreviven su esposa de 58 anos de matrimonio, cuatro hijos, nueve nietos, una familia numerosa, y tantos amigos. Nacido en Aranza, Michoacan, Mexico el 8 de febrero de 1927, sus lenguas maternas incluian espanol y purepecha. Fue el primogenito de cuatro hijos de Julian y Leonor Mercado. Los anos que vivio nuestro padre en este mundo estaban llenos de bendiciones, tribulaciones, fortaleza, y amor. A una edad muy temprana perdio a su padre por una enfermedad del higado. Como el mayor, se enfrento a la necesidad de mantener a su familia y decidio viajar al norte. Su viaje se enfrento a muchos desafios y dificultades como trabajador de campo, pobre, e indocumentado. Su trabajo lo llevo a muchos pueblos agricolas de California, donde trabajo horas interminables durante mas de 57 anos, cultivando y cosechando frutas y verduras para mantener a su familia. Su cuerpo fisico se convirtio en un reflejo de su trabajo agotador - sus manos estaban desgastadas, sus rodillas artriticas y sus pies gastados y cansados. Sin embargo, nunca se quejo de este trabajo y estaba orgulloso de brindar un buen sustento a su esposa e hijos. Su etica de trabajo y lealtad le valieron un profundo respeto por parte de sus supervisores y companeros de trabajo. Tambien le gano el apoyo del propietario de una granja local que lo patrocino para obtener la residencia en los Estados Unidos. Estaba muy orgulloso de esta oportunidad de ofrecer un futuro mejor para sus hijos y las generaciones venideras. Aunque solo se le dio la oportunidad de completar una educacion de segundo grado, su inteligencia para los negocios y los idiomas era increible. Ademas de sus idiomas nativos, tambien aprendio ingles y tagalo de sus amigos filipinos y mostro facilidad para el calculo mental y el espiritu empresarial. Vivio una vida humilde con gratitud y aprecio por las abundantes bendiciones otorgadas a su familia. Dedico su vida a ensenar a sus hijos acerca de la disciplina, la integridad y el respeto. Amorosamente nos modelo y nos enseno sobre el arrepentimiento, el perdon, la fe, y la gratitud. Estaba complacido de ver a su familia tener exito en la escuela y vivir una fuerte etica de trabajo. Creia que sus hijos y nietos eran un tributo a una vida de arduos desafios que trabajo para superar. Se regocijo y celebro los exitos de sus seres queridos. Creia que su corona y sus riquezas estaban en el bienestar y la salud de su familia. Durante los ultimos anos de su vida encontro consuelo y fortaleza en la oracion y la meditacion. Dio la bienvenida con un corazon abierto a la siguiente fase de su vida, sabiendo que su obra en este mundo estaba completa. Permanecera en nuestros corazones, eternamente agradecidos por los sacrificios que hizo para llevarnos a la rica cosecha de nuestras vidas presentes. Descanse en paz nuestro amado padre, abuelo y esposo. Velorio - Visitation Services December 8, 2022 6 - 9 pm; 7 - 8 pm Rosario - Rosary Frye Chapel 338 West Aten Road Imperial, CA 92251 Servicio Religioso - Church Service December 9, 2022 12 noon St. Margaret Mary Church 620 South Cesar Chavez Street Brawley, CA 92227