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Paul Francois Mercier
09/10/1915 — 04/19/2004
From Garden, Grove, CA, US | Born in New York, New York
Paul Francois Mercier
Paul Francois Mercier returned to his Lord and Creator on Monday, April 19, 2004, in Garden Grove, CA, at the age of 88. Before moving to California in 2002, he was a long-time resident of Richland, WA.
Paul was born September 10, 1915, in New York City and was baptized the same year. Paul confirmed his faith at Messiah St. Matthews Lutheran Church in New York City, a commitment to which he was true throughout his life. As a young man, he spent a great amount of time on the Hudson River shell racing with the Knickerbocker Boat Club.
Paul married Lillian Alysa Sandbank on February 14, 1943, while working on a degree in Engineering at NYU. While he worked for many engineering firms in and around New York, it was his position with Burns and Roe that brought him and his family to Richland in 1960. He worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation designing reactors and, later, waste containment vessels for General Electric. He retired from Rockwell-Hanford Company in 1980. In retirement, he and Lillian spent their time traveling to visit family and enjoying their boat trips on the Columbia River.
Paul found great joy in serving the Lord through the church. He often sang in choirs, had a long history of teaching Sunday School classes, and of serving as elder or School Board member for many congregations during his life. He was most proud of his design work for Nassau Christian Schools expansion Mineola, NY in the early 1950s, in the development of Trinity Lutheran School Hicksville, NY, and building the new church for Redeemer Lutheran in Richland. He was also a faithful supporter of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Lillian. He is survived by brother, Pierre Doris Mercier, West Islip, NY; daughter, Susan Rev. William Hemenway, Costa Mesa, CA; son, Paul Ilona Mercier, Huntington Beach, CA; son, Philip Diana Mercier, Garden Grove, CA; and daughter, Judith Dr. Joseph Tensmeyer, Bronxville, NY. Grandchildren include: Paul Hemenway, St. Louis, MO; Mark Trayce Hemenway, Costa Mesa, CA; Jason Vorhees, David Mercier, Alyssa Mercier, all of Huntington Beach, CA; Gillian Mercier, Garden Grove, CA; and great-grandson, Christian Paul Hemenway, Costa Mesa, CA.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 24, 2004, in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Paul and Lillian Mercier were our neighbors for 6 years. They were always gracious and kind to our family. When we moved into our home we brought our pet Beagle, Riley, with us. Riley can be a noisy neighbor, but Paul was never bothered by this. Many times I would come home and he would be talking to Riley through the fence. A couple of years later we got another dog, Ruby. Ruby so enjoyed Paul and Lillian’s company that she would jump the fence to go visit. Every Christmas Paul and Lillian would get a little gift for our sons Michael and Patrick. He always delivered it on Christmas eve and it was always appreciated. I feel fortunate to have lived next door to Paul. I doubt that I will ever have a better neighbor.
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Paul Francois Mercier