Bernice Mae Mercier

Bernice Mae (Pfau) Mercier, affectionately known to friends and family as Bunny, of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 in the early hours of July 16, 2025. We rejoice that she is now in the arms of her dear savior Jesus.

Bernice was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to Bernice Schwarm Pfau and Ernest Paul Pfau, Sr. on November 5, 1940. She graduated from Glastonbury High School in June 1958 and relocated to Miami, Florida, with her mother and siblings later that year.

She married Henry (Hank) Nelson Mercier, Jr. on May 24, 1959, at Kendall Presbyterian Church in Miami, FL. They celebrated their 66th anniversary earlier this year.

Bernice was a writer, an avid reader, and a lifelong learner. She went back to college in her later years and graduated from Indiana University with her Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies in 2003, maintaining a Dean’s List average throughout her academic career.

She worked for many years as a secretary for numerous organizations including Pittsburgh Plate Glass, The Fellowship Church, Technically Applied Coatings, and Shenandoah University, and she finished up her career in the registrar’s office of IUPUI, from which she retired in 2005.

Bunny was a member of the Red Hat Society for many years, as well as a part of various music ministry teams at the churches that she and Henry attended. She possessed a beautiful, clear soprano voice and could often be heard singing hymns and 50’s songs that she enjoyed. In her retirement years, she often accompanied “Harmonica Hank” in various community musical performances.

She and Henry lived in various parts of the country due to his career; Miami, FL, Sunrise, FL, Winchester, VA, Glendale, CA, Avon, IN, and Winter Haven, FL, where they retired in 2006.

Bernice is preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers Ernest P. Pfau and Ralph L. Pfau.

Bernice is survived by her devoted husband, Henry N. Mercier, Jr. of Winter Haven, FL; her children Rick Mercier (Dottie) of Hollywood, FL; Bill Mercier (Silvia) of Minneola, FL; Sandra Mercier of Kannapolis, NC; sister-in-law Candy Pfau of Pensacola, FL; grandchildren Joshua Mercier (Shauna) of Sunrise, FL, Sherah Larez (Fernando) of Hollywood, FL, Jared Mercier (Melinda) of Fern Park, FL, Jason Mercier (Natasha) of Davie, FL, Josiah Johnson (Jennifer) of Richland Hills, TX, Jeremiah Johnson (Morgan) of Kannapolis, NC, Samuel Johnson (Heather) of Jacksonville, FL, Paul Johnson (Taylor) of Avon, IN, Kayla Cobb (Max) of Jacksonville, FL, as well as 19 great-grandchildren.

We celebrate the life lived well by Bernice and rejoice in her homegoing, while remembering fondly her kindness, humor, sentimentality, and love for Jesus. Her large family will never let her memory be forgotten here on earth. Godspeed dear Wife, Mom, Nana, and GG. 1st Corinthians 12:12-13.