On Wednesday, May 17th, 2023, Thérèse Gisèle Mercier Brantome passed away after over nine decades of diligent caretaking, abundant humor, and unfiltered compassion cemented her as an icon of affection in countless lives. Born in November 1932, Thérèse Mercier was the eldest of Flavie Verreault and Alfred Mercier’s thirteen children in rural Saint-Cyrille-de-Lessard, Quebec. Thérèse began as a caregiver and veritable third parent for her growing family, and her siblings fondly remembered the positive influence she imparted during these years. Unsurprisingly, Thérèse pursued a career in nursing, but brave curiosity inspired her to leave Quebec for work in faraway San Francisco.
Life was difficult in California, but her electric personality quickly attracted friends and her future husband, Carl Brantome. Thérèse and Carl married in January 1963 at San Francisco’s Notre Dames des Victoires Church and built a life together, balancing work and hardship with intense, mutual love and a growing cast of children. Thérèse and her family moved across the Bay Area through the years, eager for new friendships while dutifully maintaining old ones. Thérèse held pride in her network of connections and was deeply touched by the outpouring of support ahead of her passing.
She is remembered by Carl, her loving husband of 60 years, their children, Pierre, Andre (Julia), Jean-François, Christine, and Carole, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, siblings Monique, Germaine*, Suzanne, Charles-Amié*, Denise, Cécile*, Conrad*, Noëlla, Nicole*, Madeleine, Laurent*, Clémence (*deceased), as well as nieces, nephews, and countless others, family, friends, associates, and passers-by, who owe their better instincts to the warm presence of Thérèse. Though Thérèse has left us in body, her virtues live on in the minds and actions of those mourning her passing and who do good in her memory.
Visitation for Mrs. Brantome will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, from 5:00PM - 8:00PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 500 Fairview Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, June 01, 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church from 11:00AM - 12:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St Anthony's Dining Room in SF, Thérèse's favorite charity.
