MERCURIO, Elvira “Vera”
January 14, 1926 - 2021
Elvira “Vera” Mercurio, born October 14, 1926 in Riverside, California, daughter of Jose and Concepcion Villanueva Aguilar, peacefully passed away on January 27, 2021, surrounded by her loved ones. She is the last of nine siblings. Vera at a young age supported her younger brothers and sisters picking and packing fruit in Riverside and throughout California.
As a young woman, Vera was very industrious and self-sufficient. She met her future husband, Alessandro “Sandy” Mercurio during World War II. They met at USO sponsored dances at Camp Ono, a prisoner of war camp for Italian soldiers near San Bernardino. After the war, Sandy was returned to Italy and they corresponded for four years. Vera accepted his marriage proposal and they married in Italy in 1950. Vera borrowed money to pay for her “across the world” wedding journey, to make her own wedding dress and to buy Sandy a suit.
Vera crossed the U.S. by bus and travelled by ship to Naples, where the couple was married in Pompeii. Immigration statutes required that Sandy wait one year in Italy before immigrating. Vera settled in Pasadena, where Sandy joined her.
Sandy operated a successful masonry business in Pasadena, where Vera served as his secretary, as well as mother to four growing children. Sandy and Vera loved to entertain, with great food, wine and music. They had an especially close network of former Italian POWs, who like Sandy, had all married American brides and immigrated, settling in the San Gabriel Valley.
Vera is survived by her children Rita (Ken Farfsing), Anna Mercurio (Michael Brady), Lena Mercurio (Brian Cutler) and Alex Mercurio (Kristen Bjork). Vera enjoyed being “Noni” to two grandchildren - Samuel Farfsing (Aurora Robles) and Rachel Farfsing.
Vera never forgot her simple upbringing and her Riverside roots. She believed in the power of prayer and was often seen saying the Rosary. Vera was not only a wife and mother, but she always helped others in need, regardless of whether they were friends, family or strangers. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Vera Mercurio Scholarship Fund at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Pasadena.