Mercedes Marie Dekker
7/7/1971 - 8/27/2025
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Obituary For Mercedes Marie Dekker
Mercedes “Mercy” Dekker, born July 7, 1971, sadly passed away in her San Francisco home on Wednesday August 27, 2025, at age 54. She was born in Hayward, California, to Margaret and Bill Dekker, the eleventh child of twelve. Mercy was brought up in Fremont, California in a home filled with hugs, laughter, and unconditional love. She was utterly adored and embraced by her siblings and parents with whom she naturally fit in, always brightening every room with her contagious giggle and cutting wit.
She attended Brier Elementary, Walters Jr. High and graduated John F. Kennedy High School in 1989. She went on to San Francisco State University where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Sociology. After multiple years working at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, she continued her education at Portland State University and earned her Master’s degree in Public Health while working at the university. All throughout, Mercy worked as a server to support her adventures and education, and where she made many friends.
Mercy returned to San Francisco and used her degree to advance work in social and public health. She worked as a Research Analyst and in Academic Program Management in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UCSF. Over the course of her career, she coauthored and contributed to a number of important articles and issue briefs in the social determinants of Health. Some of her work involved and made contributions to the Robert Wood Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America and the Evaluation of the California Black Infant Health Program. She often worked on advancing research into and uncovering the inequalities of health and healthcare in the United States and their undeniable links to unfair socioeconomic disparities.
Mercy had an adventurous spirit and traveled often with her long-time partner, Paul David, whom she lived with and loved for many years. She maintained strong connections with her wide network of friends who remember her fondly, and her large family who love her deeply. Throughout every stage of education, every location, and every vocation, she made lifelong friends and touched peoples’ hearts everywhere she went.
She will always be remembered for her wicked humor, empathy, and dedication to championing and understanding those less fortunate, underserved, and unfairly disadvantaged, most especially through her research. She is received in death by her father, Bill and sister, Janet. She is survived by her mother Maggie, ten siblings, Burt (Lorna), Kathy, Danny, David (Pam), John, Claire (Pete) Sabin, Jenny (John) VanCamp, Colleen (Dominic) Kinnear, Tom (Meagan), and Karl (Yvette), 19 nieces and nephews, 6 great-nieces and -nephews, along with Paul and his children and grandchildren. We will all miss her and carry on her memory.
Mercy will be honored in memorial services on Saturday, September 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Chapel of the Roses in Fremont, California, and laid to rest thereafter at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.
The family wishes to express their immense gratitude and appreciation for all of the outreach, kind regards, well wishes, and memories shared by friends and the community. If you would like to make a charitable donation in honor of Mercy, we would like to highlight the GLIDE Foundation Programs in San Francisco or the World Central Kitchen as their missions align with what Mercy stood for in life.
Services
Memorial Service
11:30 AM
Burial
01:30 PM
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Condolences
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09/15/2025
My condolences to Paul David, and the Dekker family on your loss. You are in my prayers. Diane Zukas
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09/08/2025
I will always remember Mercedes for the childhood laughter we shared. My heart goes out to your family — I am deeply sorry for your loss.
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09/07/2025
Please accept my heartfelt condolences. Mercy's kindness shined through from the very beginning—I was always so happy when she came to my childhood birthday parties, and that same sweet spirit was there anytime I saw her during our school years. She will be remembered with love. Rest easy sweet Mercy Kelly Armstrong Schreiner
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09/06/2025
Mercy was a kind and beautiful soul. She was always smiling and welcoming. I remember her fondly from Brier to Kennedy. I'm so sorry for your loss. Godspeed strength and love to the Dekker family. Albert Perez
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09/06/2025
My condolences to the Dekker family. Melissa alderson and family
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09/05/2025
My condolences to the Dekker Family. I will always remember Mercy's great smile and quick wit. Both had a way of brightening any room, wishing you comfort and peace as you hold onto these special memorie
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09/05/2025
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