Aida Iris Mercado

As Aida's daughter, I am deeply honored to pen this tribute to my loving mother, Aida Iris Mercado, also known as Aida Iris Burgos. She was born on December 5, 1938, in the radiant city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and spent the most recent years of her life in Springfield, Massachusetts. Aida was the very embodiment of love and creativity, her spirit as lively and colorful as the island she hailed from.

Aida was a woman of exceptional talent and compassion. Despite never having formal employment, her days were filled with purposeful work that made a significant impact on those around her. She had a knack for sewing, and often made matching outfits for my sister, herself, and me. Aida's talent didn’t stop at sewing, she was also an intuitive cook and baker, constantly learning new recipes to delight her family. Her orange cake was a favorite of my father's, and her chocolate chip cookies are a fond memory of my childhood. Even in her discipline, she displayed a unique humor, once warning me about the dangers of eating raw cookie dough with a tale that had the whole family laughing. As the saying goes, "The laughter of a mother is the light of the home."

Aida was a loving widow, survived by her children, Rosaida Mercado, Orlando Jr, Elizabeth Rosenfeld, Samuel Mercado, and Meddalia Torres. Each of us carries a piece of her spirit, her creativity, her love, and her warmth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orlando Mercado, her parents, Julio Burgos and Sara Acevedo, and her siblings, Gladys and Miguel Burgos.

A viewing for Aida Mercado will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Puerta Del Cielo® Funeral Home, located at 730 State Street, Springfield, MA, followed by her burial at Oak Grove Cemetery of Springfield Inc., located at 426 Bay Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, 01109.

It is said that "When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." We invite you to join us in cherishing the treasure that is Aida's memory. Please visit her memorial page to share your memories of Aida and upload photos that capture the joy she brought into our lives.