Reverand Pauline Theresa Mathieu Mercadel's Obituary
Reverend Pauline Theresa Mathieu Mercadel was peacefully called home to be with the Lord on June 14, 2021 at 12:07 a.m. She was 92 years old. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 28, 1929 by the union of her parents, the late Albert R. Mathieu and Pauline V. Payne Joseph. She was the eldest of six children, Albert R. Mathieu, Jr. (deceased), Thomas J. Mathieu (deceased), Darrell J. Mathieu, Tony White and Bernadette T.J. Nicholas.
Pauline attended Craig’s School and always had a yearning for learning. By 14 years old Pauline who was self-taught in beauty culture would take her satchel of tools and go from house to house to style hair. With the necessity of increasing the family income to help her mother to rear her 5 siblings she took it upon herself to provide cosmetology services to the locals in the New Orleans area. The Louisiana State Board allowed her to attend Katie Wickham’s School of Beauty Culture. Pauline graduated as the youngest Beauty Culture student in the state of Louisiana. She mastered this profession and passionately applied her skills to her customers until 1962. From 1958 to 1962 she was the spiritual leader and founder of the Triumph Christian Youth Association (TCYA), a group of young people who developed their natural talents in singing, teaching, preaching the word of God and dramatic recitations of James Weldon Johnsons “God’s Trombone”. This group traveled every Sunday evening around the city of New Orleans to perform at various church services. She retired from Cosmetology due to health conditions which forced her and her family to move to California for treatment. She was a victorious survivor of cancer. In June 1965 she became an ordained minister through Christ Community Church in Los Angeles, California. From February 16, 1966 to July 23, 1990, she pastored her own church, Christ Chapel of Divine Science. She was affectionately known as “Lene” by her family and “Mother Mercadel” by her students, friends and members of her congregation. Upon the recommendation of her husband’s physicians, Pauline and her husband retired and returned to Louisiana in 1990. She loved and cared for her husband until his passing in August 1995. Pauline spent the rest of her days studying the bible and sharing its teachings with all who needed her valuable counsel.
She was the beloved and devoted wife of Walbert Francois Mercadel, Jr. for more than fifty years. Their marriage produced and she is survived by four children: Walbert F. Mercadel, III (Nora), Janee’ Michelle Mercadel-Tucker, Zona Marie Mercadel and Zarnell Mary Mercadel Burrell (Kenneth), ten grandchildren; David, Yolanda, Michael, Renai, Jonathan, Shawshonee, Robert, Heather, Monique and Iam, twenty-one great grandchildren; Tina, Janee, Lavyona, Tiffany, William, David, Leelend, Rebekah, Corinne, Brenden, Gabrielle, Jedidah, Asia, Joshua, Ania, Jahshua, Brittney, Lauren, Judaea, Jonathan, and Benjamin, and ten great-great grandchildren; Ismael, Jerone, Jr., Indiaah, Jalen, Oliver, Brielle, Delaney, Creux, Assatta and Saige, and her adopted children; Cecelia Jones, Janet Bemis and Barbara Braud, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W 21st Ave, Covington, LA 70433 on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:00 AM with visitation on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow the services in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, 2280 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA.
Please sign the E.J. Fielding Funeral Home online Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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