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Mercy Metherate Obituary

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Mercy Metherate

Rockville, MD

May 2, 1938 - April 2, 2021

Mercy Metherate Obituary

Mercy Metherate of Rockville, MD, peacefully passed on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife of 66 years of Joseph Metherate; loving mother of Rani (and Varghese) George and Raju (and Lori) Metherate; devoted grandmother of Matthew and Anjuli George and Alex and Lila Metherate; sister of Philo, Crizy, Juliet, Jessini, Tessy, Marina and the late Sister Sosia, C.M.C.; daughter of the late G.P. Paul and Mary Paul. She was 82 years old. Born on May 2, 1938, Mercy Metherate was raised in Kerala, India, as the third of eight daughters. Her father was the general manager of a textile mill and she often spoke of an idyllic upbringing surrounded by a large extended family at the sprawling family home, Fieldland. At 16, Mercy married Joseph Metherate on December 27, 1954. Their two children, Rani and Raju, were born in India before Joseph accepted a position in 1958 at the World Bank in Washington DC. and they began life in the United States. Over the next 62 years they lived in the Washington suburbs, raising their family mostly in Kensington, Potomac and Rockville, Maryland. Given her upbringing filled with family and friends, Mercy initially found that life in the US could be lonely. But she soon found a source of friendship in the Welcome to Washington club, an organization devoted to enriching the lives of foreign diplomats’ wives. An early mentor was Helen Gaudin, a diplomat’s wife who taught art class for the group. Through Helen, Mercy discovered what became a lifetime passion for creating art including painting, sculpture and mixed media. In time, her art garnered widespread recognition that included stints as artist in residence at Wesley Theological Seminary and a Smithsonian Resident Associate. Her work was exhibited in galleries, juried group and solo shows, and in national media. She continued to paint and exhibit well into her 70s. Mercy’s art is closely tied to a deep spiritual journey, and she considered her art a form of meditation and prayer. She was a devoted Catholic and a vital member of St. Raphael Church in Rockville for over 50 years where she helped establish the annual Care and Share Indian Bazaar. An early mentor in her spiritual journey was Sister Claire Sullivan, who founded St. Raphael’s Anchorhold spiritual center to promote contemplative prayer and meditation. Mercy eventually became a meditation facilitator in Anchorhold, and the close connection of art and meditation can be seen in many of her works, notably the watercolor paintings in her Meditation Series. Mercy and Joseph were dedicated to the work of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. Mercy taught art, meditation and yoga at the home for unwed mothers established by the Missionaries of Charity in Anacostia, in southeast Washington, DC. Both she and Joseph also worked in the soup kitchen. A highlight of Mercy’s time with the Missionaries of Charity was a month spent working with Mother Teresa at the home of the dying in Calcutta, India. A beloved matriarch of a large extended family in the Washington area, Mercy held dearly in her heart all of her nieces and nephews and their families. She cherished her relationships within a wide circle of friends and fellow seekers. Her boundless energy and commitment to serving others touched many communities. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, followed by private entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Mausoleum. To honor her legacy, a celebration of Mercy’s life will be planned and announced on the funeral home website (below) at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of Charity, 2800 Otis Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20018. Please view and sign the family guestbook and find a link to watch the Mass of Christian Burial below.

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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Mercy Metherate.