Mercedes Ofe Domingcil

Mercedes (Mercy) Ofe Edralin Domingcil, 76, of Orosi, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. After two years of declining health, she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Mercedes was born on March 13, 1945, in Oanagan, Vintar, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, to Trinidad Bitanga Edralin and Samuel Edralin. She attended a local elementary and high school, and then attended St. William College in Laoag City, earning her a secretarial degree. Mercedes worked in a government office in Vintar until she learned she was able to travel to America due to her naturalization as a result of her mother´s birth in Hawaii during the Sakada era, which automatically provided her United States citizenship.

On June 26, 1966, Mercedes, along with her childhood neighbors, Willie and Joe Domingcil, flew to San Francisco, California, where she would travel south to settle and work in Cutler, California. Within the next year she reconnected with her childhood friend and travel companion, Willie, and the two married on January 28, 1967. They made their home in Orosi.
They had their first child, Wilma, in November of 1967; their second child, Merideth, came in June of 1969.
Mercedes enjoyed various jobs beginning with being a teacher's aide at Cutler Child Care during the 70's. Then she worked at Poppy Foods in Dinuba, and Zacky Farms in Fresno for the next 12 years. She then commuted to Tulare to work at Golden Valley Dairy Products/Saputo, also for 12 years.
All the time she worked and raised her daughters, she also pursued her dream of becoming a registered nurse. She took classes from Reedley College and College of the Sequoias in Visalia. In the 80´s and 90’s she also helped her husband manage their farming business where they raised various Asian and domestic vegetables and travelled weekly to Daly City, CA, to sell their produce.
Her hobbies, when time permitted, included: crocheting, reading (especially True Story Magazine), sewing, and baking. She was well known for her Ensemada Rolls and her cooking was sought after by many friends and family.
She first became a grandmother in 1991, having a total of six grandchildren. Being Nana Ofe was the highlight of her life.
Mercedes is survived by: her mother, Trinidad Edralin; her husband, Willie; her daughter, Wilma Newman (Bryan) of Rock Hill, SC, grandson Ethan (Lila) of Charlotte, NC, grandson Austin of Charlotte, NC, grandson Trevor, grandson Joseph, granddaughter Hope; her daughter, Merideth Moreno (Ray) of Orosi, CA, and grandson Tanner.
Services will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cutler, CA, Viewing 10am to 12pm, Rosary Recitation 12pm to 12:30pm, Mass 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Graveside Service 2pm at Smith Mountain Cemetery, Dinuba, CA, Funeral Luncheon 3pm at Tian Tian Buffet, Dinuba, CA. Funeral services provided by Dopkins Funeral Chapel, Dinuba, CA.
Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at stjude.org/donarhoy, Mercedes’ favorite charity. The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Ahmad Shahroz, and Dr. Ashkan Attaran, of the Visalia Medical Clinic for the many years of care they provided for Mercedes; and her nurses, who lovingly cared for her: Editha Carlos, Merlyn Bulosan, Lizeth Cabrera, Lily Cabrera, Guadalupe Hernandez, Jennifer Aniag, Vera Coronado, Becky Meza and Clarita Santos.