Marianne (Banda) C. Mersch

Marianne Clara Mersch (Banda)

Today we are honoring, celebrating and remembering, Marianne Clara Mersch.

Marianne, also know as Banda, was born on Armistice Day, November 11th, 1928. Proud of her German heritage, she is the last of nine siblings to pass away at the age of 94. She is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard who she was married to for 55 years, daughters Colleen and Renee, son Frank, daughter-in-law Linda and great grandson Tanner. Her family is comforted to know she is with her loved ones again.

Marianne was born and raised in St Paul Minnesota by Emma and Robert Phillips. She graduated with honors from Monroe High School. She met Leonard Mersch on a blind date, set up by her sister Rosella, who described him as a big Saint Bernard. Married in 1950, they had nine children – Colleen, Bernadette, Robert, Jeffrey, Nicholas, Renee, Lenore, Leo and Frank. The family grew, and Banda became grandmother to 20, great grandmother to 29 and a great great grandmother to 2. A loving aunt and longtime friend to many, she will be greatly missed.

Marianne’s main reason for living was her family and her Catholic faith. She was a stay at home mom while her children grew up. She was fiercely dedicated to St Francis de Sales Church, volunteering wherever she could help. She trimmed the flowers, sewed, cleaned, made and delivered meals to the priests until well into her 80’s, sang in the funeral choir, gave English lessons to children and baked pies for the church fund raisers, earning the title of ‘Pie Lady”. She was a member and Secretary of the Secular Franciscan Order and would never miss a pro-life march. She and Leonard were in a dance group until dancing became too difficult. She was a member of the St Paul Hiking Club until she was 86. She was a talented seamstress, a terrific cook and ABSOLUTELY LOVED when her sons took her fishing or her daughters took her shopping. She planned many, many parties and trips, loved to be busy. Christmas, Thanksgiving and her birthdays were always big and special events.

After Leonard retired from the St Paul Police Department they started and ran the West End Travel Club with Leonard’s brother and wife. They made so many friends while traveling around the world, often taking the kids and their families with them. It was so important to Banda to make memories and spend time with family. Every summer, they would host a Mersch family vacation, renting a lake resort for a week. Those summer vacations are a ‘most cherished' memory to many of her family.

She enjoyed going to restaurants, would order the most unusual entree on the menu and would never sit in view of the kitchen. She enjoyed sitting on her swing in her backyard reading the paper, but her favorite thing to do was visit her children and grands. She called them her “blessings” and would tell her friends she was “reaping the benefits of a large family” always having a birthday party or an event to go to.

Marianne was diagnosed with Parkinson's at 90 years old. She refused to go to the doctor or let it slow her down until she couldn’t pick up her feet any longer. She was blessed to have many wonderful neighbors, friends and family to help care for her, they cooked, delivered meals to her door, picked her up for church everyday & took her to the doctor. The family will always be grateful for their kindness and love. She moved to Cerenity Assisted Living when she could no longer live alone in her home. Despite the many challenges of her disease she stayed active from morning till night doing every activity they offered, but she always missed her home, YMCA card club friends, her knitting group ladies, her hiking club, her fellow Franciscans, her church and her kind and loving friends and neighbors. Her friends and family meant the world to her and she to them as many called and visited her at Cerenity. I am so proud of her grandchildren, how you stepped up. She would light up with your visits. She was kind, loving and generous, always wanting to “do something”.

Marianne, will be forever missed and loved. Your family thanks you for their wonderful life! “You were THEIR Blessing”!

memorial service

Visitation

September 7, 2023

St Francis De Sales Church 650 Palace Ave, St Paul, MN 55102, USA

Mass will be at 11:00 AM following visitation.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services