Vita Mercurio's Obituary
Celebrating the life of Vita Olekhnovitch Mercurio
Vita was born on February 24, 1939 in the town of Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. She was the youngest of three children born to Anna Giacolone and Guilio P. Olekhnovitch. She lived in Mazara until she was ten years old when she and her family immigrated to America. They settled in Little Italy in San Diego where many of her relatives lived. She attended school there and later graduated from San Diego High. Remarkably, Vita learned to speak English during her first summer in the US by interacting with all her cousins. In 1959, she met the love of her life Bernard “Ben” Mercurio and they were married on March 27, 1960 at Our Lady of the Rosary in downtown San Diego in Little Italy. She lived with her husband and four children Fred, Tommy, Kira, and Marla for many years on Mount Helix. They moved to the bountiful Imperial Valley in 1974. Vita always had a very deep love for her family and enjoyed homemaking and cooking her favorite meals for them and serving them for big family gatherings. Christmas was her favorite holiday where she would make her homemade bread and candies, but she was renowned for her homemade raviolis. She was a long-standing member of Christ Community Church, El Centro and Calvary Chapel. She was a member of the Women’s 10,000 Club of El Centro and Doves Charity Imperial Valley. She also enjoyed playing bridge with friends. She is survived by her husband Bernard, son Fred (Stephanie), daughters Kira and Marla (Larry); her brother Tony Olekhnovitch; grandchildren Viana, Sabrina, Tommy, Amia and Dominic; and great-grandchildren Blake and Bella along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was Ben’s love of his life and he was hers. They were three months shy of celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary. She loved all her children and grandchildren with all of her heart and served her whole family diligently and graciously with her unending love and constant wide smile. She was generous to all she met and made an impression for her zeal for life, which was her namesake, Vita which means “Life.” She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her.
What’s your fondest memory of Vita?
What’s a lesson you learned from Vita?
Share a story where Vita's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Vita you’ll never forget.
How did Vita make you smile?
