Goodbye to our Nana...

My Nana passed away last weekend (December 17, 1916 ~ February 3, 2012). She was 95. She will be missed by all of us.

OBITUARY: Alene Delores Mercier
DATELINE:  Swanton, VT / St. Albans

Alene Delores Mercier died in the Franklin County Rehab Center, St. Albans VT at age 95 on February 3, 2012. She was born in Highgate, VT, the daughter of the late Louis and Phoebe (Lambert) Pontbriandand the wife of Herman (Zenie) Mercier, who died in 1996. Alene graduated from Swanton High School and following this was employed as a secretary at the Swanton Town Clerks Office. Married in 1938, she was the bookkeeper for Zenie's Super Market untilZenie became Postmaster in Swanton. She then went to work for years at the Swanton Village Office. She was a talented piano player and singer, entertaining for various events and was organist at The Church of the Nativity for more than 40 years. She was also a member of the Nativity Ladies of St. Anne and Altar Society and served several years as accompanist for the Grandma's and Grandpa's Choral Group.

Alene is survived by three children: John (Alexandra) Mercier of Edgartown, MA, Ross Mercier of Sarasota, FL and Julie Malloy of South Burlington, VT; eight grandchildren, Jefferson (Moria) Mercier of MA, Courtney Mercier of UT, Samuel Mercier of MA, Kate (Jeff) Lee of NC, Megan (Newman) Evans of Washington, DC, Timothy Malloy of VT, Erin Malloy - St. Onge and significant other, Roy McDermott of VT and Barry (Holly) Malloy of CO; seven great grandchildren and several very special nieces and nephews; sister, Marie Woodard of OH and a sister-in-law, Eileen Mercier of VT.

Along with her husband and parents, she was also predeceased by her mother and father-in-law, William and Etta Mae Mercier; brothers, Lionel and Fabian; sisters, Alfreda Davis, BeatriceCrolius and Veronica Douglas; sister-in-law, Velma Hayward Pontbriand; brothers-in-law, BurtCrolius, Kenneth Douglas, Robert O'Connor, Walter Davis, Homer Woodard, Lloyd Mercier and Clyde Mercier; nephews, Edward Douglas and Clyde Mercier, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Nita Mercier and son-in-law, David Malloy.

A special thank-you to Polly and Raymond Pare of Swanton, VT for their help and kindness toAlene throughout the years.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11 a.m. from The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 65 Canada St., Swanton. Father Thomas D. Nadeau will be the celebrant and homilist. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow for immediate family members only at the Mercier family lot in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Friends may call at The Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton on Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Swanton Historical Society, P.O. Box 235, Swanton, VT 05488.

{courtesy of www.kiddermemorialhome.com}

The kids and I travelled to Vermont on Tuesday by ourselves. Jeff was away at a conference in Atlanta. I was nervous as all get-out but was determined to do it...even after Aston's fever scare the night before...and lemme tell you...they were spectacular!

LtoR: Aston's first ever piece of gum which he hated because it was mint flavor and he has an aversion to mint so don't think it counted, playing a race app, a photo Aston took of Lake Champlain out the window, Mei passed out, Skittles (Gram gave them a dollar each when we left VT and they bought Skittles with their combined funds), watching Lion King, enjoying a cran-apple-seltzer cocktail, Mei passed out on the return.



We arrived (Megan was on our last flight to our surprise!) in VT on time and ready for the frigid cold! Gram picked us up and drove us all to her house. We unwounded a bit until we needed to head up to Swanton for the Wake.

At the last minute we decided to leave the kids with Moiria and Kaden (5) at Nana's house (she had graceously offered but I was hesitant knowing the kids were gonna be CRAZY! for her per the long day we had). Man was I glad we did! The kids had a blast together! Kaden had all kinds of Star Wars legos so Aston was smitten and Moiria had bought some playdough and crafts for Stell so she was immidiately sold. They were crazy as you can see in this video (Morira taught them how to make a cousin pyriamid!)...soooo wish they lived closer...here's the video:

Thanks again Moiria!

And as if that wasn't enough Chrissy, Pop, Gram, Megan and I then dragged the kids out to dinner with us in St. Albans. I believe the place was called Jeff's Seafood. Again...I was blown away with how well the kids did...thanks Chrissy for dinner!...and thanks Pop for the snuggles... {photo courtesy of Megan}



The funeral was the toughest part for all of us I think. It made it real and I finally felt like I had time to reflect without the kids with me (they stayed with Gram). Each of the family members played a role in the ceremony which was really special. Meg and I had the honor of presenting the "gifts" to Father Nadeau.

iPhone shots of the ceremony: Notice the musical note on the casket. Could it be more fitting? And notice the sunrays...chills...



Nana was not only a musical talent but a fashion talent. She always wore big chunky jewelry, she had all types of furs and her nails were always painted to match her outfits. Notice Courtney's nails below...she painted them "Nana Red" in her honor:)

Here are the few shots from the party we had at Nana's house after the funeral. Kinda wish I captured some more details like Nana's organ, the Gin and Tonics made by cousin Jeff (Nana had a gin and tonic every night:)), Courtney in Nana's furs and arrrrrgh but I didn't get any of the kids playing with Kaden (5)...Jeff and Moiria's son...but at least we have the hilarious video above:)

My cousin Courtney and her Grandfather (88) on her Mother Pat's side



Sam, Moiria, Grandpa, Jeff



All of Nana's Grandchildren except Barry: Me, Erin, Megan, Jeff, Coutney, Sam, Tim



Ha! this might be my fave...



Uncle John and his crew



Dad and all his girls:) LOVED that Chrissy joined us to remember Nana...meant so much



Aunt Julie's kids: Timmy and Erin...Barry was missing so I made Dad take a cell photo of this favorite picture of Nana's...Barry hiking in CO...HA!



Nana would have loved to mingle and tell her famous jokes and one liners with all these people in her house...



Sam and Elyse and Jeff and Moiria...



Wish I could have hung out for longer with all these cousins...such fun peeps...and they're my fam...and for that I am proud!



Gram so graciously had the kids for the funeral and most of the party afterwards but when they did arrive Stelly was clutched to a blanket Nana made for me when I was little. Gram found it and gave it to her...and she has slept with it ever since...ahhhhh...tears...



Dad sent some photos of Nana's house for me to post. They were taken last summer but I love that I have them to remember this house by. So many memories here. Dad, John and Julie grew up in this house...and now John and Dad have to prepare to sell it:( Don't you love the "M" for Mercier on the chimney? Heart-melting...sure hope the new owners name begins with M:(



If anyone can remember any good Nana jokes/sayings post them in the comments...I would love to hear! Like when she drank her nightly gin and tonics she would cheers to those around her and say "here's how we lost the farm!" Dad was remembering that one the other day...

Goodbye Nana we love you...say "hi" to Gramps for us!