Plan for the Future
Mercedita (“Mercy”) Rodriguez Nelson died peacefully on March 1, 2020, at the age of 81.Mercy was born in the Philippines on January 27, 1939. She was the oldest of 13 children. Mercy went to nursing school and was also the first to leave her home to live in North America. After initially residing in Canada, she moved to New Jersey and met Harry Nelson, whom she married in 1970. They settled in South Orange and had a son.
Mercy was strong-willed, yet outgoing, and she made friends wherever she went. She loved to travel and always enjoyed a good time. Mercy was also a devout Catholic and was kind and quick to help those in need.
Mercy eventually moved to Morris County, and she retired after working as a nurse for four decades. In retirement, her passion was her grandsons, Justin and James. After developing Parkinson’s Syndrome, Mercy moved to California to be with her devoted sisters who cared for her.
Mercy was predeceased by her loving husband, Harry. She is survived by her son Mark Nelson and his wife Diane of Short Hills, NJ, her grandsons Justin and James, and many adoring siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 10 am at St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills, NJ. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. Visiting hours will be held, Saturday, March 7, 2020, from 8 am to 9:30 am at the Bradley Brough & Dangler Funeral Home, 299 Morris Ave. Summit, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mercy’s memory may be made to: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777. To send the family a condolence, please visit, www.www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.