Mercedes Melendrez

Mercedes "Mercy" (De Leon) Melendrez, 80, passed away at her home in Las Cruces, NM, surrounded by her family and friends on November 17, 2024. She was born on July 24, 1944, in Alamogordo, NM, to Evangelista (Duran) De Leon and Pablo De Leon. Mercy was married to her beloved husband, Joe G. Melendrez, for 59 years. 

Mercy is survived by her husband, Joe G. Melendrez, and her daughters: Monica M. Hudson (Anthony) from League City, TX; Genevieve Melendrez from Las Cruces, NM; and Angela M. Velasco (Luis) from Las Cruces, NM. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Luis A. Velasco III from Las Cruces, NM; Serena M. Melendrez-Wright (Will) from Dallas, TX; Jose M. Velasco (Andrea Guerra) from Las Cruces, NM; Alejandro Velasco (Alexis Renteria) from Las Cruces, NM; and Felicity M. Melendrez from Las Cruces, NM. Additionally, she has a great-granddaughter, Reyna Joe Wright, and a brother, Abraham De Leon Jr. (Margie), from Las Cruces, NM. 

Mercy is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: Ramona De Leon Garcia (Alfred) and Louis De Leon (Pat). 

Mercy was born and raised in Alamogordo, NM, but she also cherished her time and adventures in the small town of La Luz, NM. She graduated from Grants High School in Grants, NM. Shortly after graduation, she married her love, best friend, and dance partner, Joe G. Melendrez, on June 5, 1965, in a beautiful ceremony in Alamogordo. 

After getting married, Mercy and Joe started a family, raising their three daughters: Monica, Genevieve, and Angela, who admired and learned from their mother at every opportunity. Mercy worked for the New Mexico Department of Labor, where she dedicated 27 years before retiring. After retirement, she continued to stay active by working at Casa Arena Nursing Facility for approximately five years and spending time with family and friends. 

Outside of her work, Mercy enjoyed dancing with her husband, Joe, and caring for her grandchildren. She was cherished as a grandmother to Luis III, Serena, Jose, Alejandro, and Felicity, and as a great grandmother to Reyna Joe. Mercy expressed her love through her passion for cooking and baking, and she loved attending her grandchildren’s school, athletic, and academic events. She took great pride in her daughters and grandchildren. Mercy shared her love of cooking with family, friends, church members, her grandchildren’s teammates, and visitors to her home. 

As the youngest of four siblings, Mercy often shared stories from her childhood with her siblings Ramona, Louis, and Abraham, particularly highlighting their shared love of music. She deeply adored her siblings and cherished her nieces and nephews. Mercy believed in loving unconditionally. Every evening, she prayed for and blessed her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, friends, and even those who may have lost their way, whether in person or through her prayers. 

Mercy was a woman of strong faith in God. In honor of her life, the holy rosary will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, located at 100 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM, with Deacon Mariano Melendrez reciting. The funeral mass will follow at 10:30 a.m., officiated by Father Theo Okafor. A celebration of Mercy’s life will take place after the funeral mass.

The pallbearers will be Luis A. Velasco III, Jose M. Velasco, Alejandro Velasco, Will Wright, Serena M. Melendrez-Wright, Felicity M. Melendrez, and Reyna Joe Wright. Interment will be at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in a private ceremony at a later date. 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our family and friends for their love, support, and prayers for our mother and our family.