Frederick Joseph Mercer
March 12th, 1940 – March 24th, 2013

In loving memory of Frederick Joseph Mercer who, after a gallant battle with  cancer, passed away with his loving family by his side.

Fred was born in the country of Newfoundland in the city of St. John’s.  In 1957 at the age of 17, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces to serve his country. He then spent the next 21 years primarily with the 1st Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, then the 3rd Battalion PPCLI.  Most of his career was spent as a member of the band, touring the world and captivating audiences with their performances.  As a ”Band Rat” one of the highlights was performing in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo of 1962. Ultimately, Fred achieved his career goal of becoming the Drum Major for the band. When he wasn’t performing he served in the Anti-Tank platoon. After his departure from the army he took a position with Loomis Armored Car, safely transporting all of your money in and around Victoria for 15 years.  Upon his retirement, Fred took up golf.  Not one to take things lightly he became very good and in short order, recorded the first ever hole in one at Cordova Bay “The Ridge” Golf Course on July 9th, 1999.

Although serving his country was very important to him, what Fred held dearest to his heart was his family. Together with his wife Janice, they devoted their lives to raising four very responsible and loving children.  The family bond instilled in their kids will be his ultimate legacy never to be forgotten.

When Fred was first diagnosed with this disease he chose to fight it on his own terms, with dignity and honour.  This courageous position allowed him and his family to live with this illness and support him every step of the way.  Fred definitely set the bar very high on how to leave this world.

Predeceased  by  his sister Lorraine, Fred is survived by his wife  Janice, children Kirk (Sherri), Craig (Kana), Tony (Nicole) and Janet;  his grandchildren Karsen, Rielyn, Grace, Wyatt, Kaila and Jordan; siblings Rita (Robert), Paul (Jenny), Ken (Diane), Deb (Michael); cousin Jeanette and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the nursing staff and volunteers of the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) at Saanich Peninsula Hospital along with Dr’s Winsby, Kennedy, Jovic and Marsh. In lieu of flowers, please give generously to the Palliative Care Unit at http://sphf.ca/donate. Please specify ‘other’ and enter ‘Palliative Care Unit’.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, April 5th, 2013 from 1:30 – 4:00 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion, Trafalgar/Pro Patricia, 411 Gorge Road, Victoria BC

Seia Ogino joined the human race Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 at 6:26AM Japan Standard Time weighing in at 2324 Grams (5 lbs 1 ounces for you non-metric types). Chie and Seia are doing very well and enjoying some much deserved rest at Kaizuka Hospital.

Seia Ogino

Cousin Jeanne gave birth on Friday, October 27th to a very handsome baby boy named Levi William Rattlesnake Puritch. He weighed in at 4308 grams (9lbs 8oz). The word is that Mom and Son are both doing well and Daddy Aran and Sister Katia and very excited.

Levi William Rattlesnake Puritch

Gertrude Mercer December 9th, 1913 – October 8th, 2006

Grandma Mercer (my Dad’s Mom) passed away on Sunday October 8th at 12:00am NDT (Newfoundland Daylight Time). She was 93 years old and led a good long life. It is unfortunate that Kana, Gracie and I were unable to visit Newfoundland before Granny passed away. But we know she is in a better place and one day we will see her again.

Granny Mercer had not been out to the west coast for a long time (not since I
was a boy). But one of the highlights of our Christmas mornings was talking to
Granny Mercer back in Newfoundland on the telephone. It was one of the few times I remember listening to someone, besides Uncle Paul, talking with a “Newfie” accent
(since Dad lost his)!

Auntie Diane, Granny Mercer and Uncle Ken (Dad’s younger brother) in 1999

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family and friends in Newfoundland during this time of mourning. May God bless you and keep you close.

Hey Hey Everyone. We are happy to announce the birth of Ryder Gerard Puritch (son of cousin James and Yvette Puritch) at 6:10pm PDT August 13th, 2006 weighing in at 4368 grams (9lbs 13oz.)…remember Grace Yuki was 2906 grams (6lbs 40 oz). Way to go Yvette.

Ryder Gerard Puritch

Ryder Gerard Puritch with George and Elaine (Grandparents)

Yesterday, July 16th 2006, will go down as one of the best days for Kana and I in Japan. As Ai Sugiura and Junya Fujii (our good friends who you may have seen in some of our videos) exchanged marriage vows in a western type ceremony in downtown Osaka. Ai was so beautiful…a real princess, and Junya was super cool as ever.

Junya and Ai at the main Reception

We were there with the whole KaToRiShiA crew. Kana and Tomo helped greet the guests while Shima and Rie really helped make the after party a smashing success, and all the girls sang a song called “Best Friends” during the reception which brought many to tears.

Craig, Kana, Junya, Shima, Rie, Ai, Tomo and Koichi

After the Reception they threw one of the best after parties EVER with bingo prizes including an i-pod, a trip to an Onsen (Japanese hotspring) and a trip to Okinawa. WOW!

Grace Yuki

While we have been trying our best to get done what we should have, Grace Yuki is going to be 6 month. Time flies, that is for sure. Now she weighs 7.6 kg (16.5 lbs) and holding her to sleep is a lot of work, I’m telling you. It has been about 2 weeks since she had started eating baby food. She has tried Omoyu (it’s like a rice porridge), bread porridge and mashed potato. Just like her Mom, she likes eating food and she eats just fine, so far. That is great!

I take Gracie for a walk everyday unless it rains. One day to the Shimomatsu train station, other day to a local super market. One thing I really miss about Victoria is nice & cozy coffee shops in a neighbourhood. It would have been awesome if we had one near here, then Grace & I would just stop by to grab a cup of coffee and maybe muffin or brownie, talk to people, hang out for a while and then walk home. Even though I take Grace for a walk every day, I am not sure if it is such a good idea because we really don’t have a nice side walk and the road itself is pretty narrow. Many cars, bikes and no side walk are not what we parents want to have for raising kids in. Oh well, complaining will not lead me anywhere so I guess I should try my best for Grace’s sake.

Recently Grace tends to lie on her stomach and we find she is sleeping on her stomach almost every morning. She shows her interests to a cell phone, remote controller, wind bell, fan and Craig’s corona even! I think we will need to tidy up in the house very soon so that she will not hurt herself with what we never think would be harmful.

Grace’s growing up gives us more worries, however that is nothing if you compare with joy, laugh and happiness she brings us. When I think of these last 3 or 4 months, sure it was the busiest and the most crazy time in my life. Yet, it is very easy to be forgotten because of what we get after that.

We want to wish a big congratulations to our cousin Andrea and her husband Josh on the arrival of their first child, a wonderful baby boy named Isaiah Joshua. Aunti Linda said Isaiah was born at 12:46pm PDT weighing in at 2790 grams (6 lbs 14 ozs). Andrea is doing great and the whole family is just ecstatic.

We wish them all well and can’t to see some pictures of beautiful little Isaiah. Welcome to the family.

Update 2006-JUL-06
These pictures are fresh in from Cousin Kristen of Cousin Andrea and handsome little baby Isaiah. Sure is a cutie. Congrats again Andrea and Josh.

Well the boy done went and got himself hitched to a BEAUTIFUL girl from Slovakia (in case some of you didn’t know Brian’s Dad is originally from Slovakia). We got word a couple days ago from Brian that he and Maria were married in Slovakia (I have included his email below). Way to go guys. I know everyone in Canada will look forward to meeting and seeing you in the fall. Of course for Kana, Grace Yuki and I it may be a bit longer yet before we can visit with you two.

“Maria and I are pleased to announce that on April 22, 2006 we were married in Trnava, Slovakia.

The day was perfect and the weather cooperated – 26 degrees and sunny.
80 people were in attendance and got to experience a combination of Canadian
and Slovak traditions. We look forward to returning to Canada this summer and
celebrating our marriage everyone. A reception will take place in Victoria in
late summer, or early fall. ”

The Newlyweds,
Brian and Maria Hotovy
We wish you both all the BEST in your new married life together. KANPAI!

Our little princess Gracie has been growing up. Actually I can’t believe how fast she gets bigger and some of the baby clothes we got for the Christmas can’t fit anymore! It is a real blessing that Grace has been growing just fine and I never can appreciate enough.

She will be 2 month old on Feb 22nd and there have been some changes with her. First of all, the time of her being awake gets longer. Secondly, she smiles or laughs looking at people or things and which means she gets to recognize what are around her. Also the reasons for her to cry has been changing, she only cried because she was hungry or wanted to have a fresh diaper before, however lately, we find that she sometimes cries for our attention or when she wants to be hold and that shows she grows.

I began to read her kids books these days. AND seems she really likes books! I succeeded to take a great picture of Grace Yuki with a beautiful smile on her face. It was taken when I read her a book called “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?” . Imagine me reading a book and trying to get a nice shot of Grace’s smile with my little cell phone at the same time! It must have been a quite funny scene if anybody had looked! Yet, that is what most of the new parents would do, I bet.

Well, the bassinet we bought for Grace will be too small for her to be in sometime soon and we’d better go get something bigger.

Thanks Grace Yuki for being such a beautiful, wonderful and amazing girl! Every cry, noise, smile and laugh you make have been making your parents the happiest in the world! Also thanks Craig for your support as always. I don’t think I would be able to get what I’ve got now without your help.

I love you both, my family.

First of all, thanks so much everyone for the cards, e-mails and gifts. We very much appreciate all of you, needless to say.

Well, almost 20 days have passed since beautiful Grace was born. She is such a great baby, and Craig and I are so happy. Even when she is sleeping, we just can not take our eyes off from her, you know what I mean. Even her crying makes me happy because I can know she is alive. It is strange but I feel like I am still in a dream once in a while. Giving baby a birth is surely an experience which is very hard, with lot of pain but with a joy never be to compare to anything. Holding still wet Grace in my arms and feeling her warmth gave me a feeling that I had never imagined I would. I will never forget that feeling, Grace's warmth and Craig's face looking at us with teary eyes.

Grace Yuki has been growing up just fine and basically seeing every single change on her is what I do.

Craig is a great Dad already. He helps me a lot with changing diaper (he is a Master), putting Grace into a sleep in the middle of the night with a wicked songs (he is a Professional), and holding Grace in his arms when she is not in a good mood (he is an Expert).

Anyways, Grace's existence has changed everything and we are just happy with this reality. I can't wait to see her growing up and bringing us great joy one and another. I am still a new mom and know there are lots to learn from now on but I know at the same time that I have Craig and Grace Yuki to learn together. New Team Mercer has just launched.

Kana and Grace came home from the hospital today.

Craig, Kana and Yuki fresh home from the hospital

We have been just overwhelmed by all of your emails to both regular and cell phone addresses, as well as all of your encouragement on the friends page. In addition we have really cherished being able to visit with some of you via Skype and MSN Messenger. Thank You Very Much.

I posted a few of the photos from the past few days to the Photo Gallery (retired 2012 as the photos are on Facebook)…so enjoy.

Tonight is our first night all at home, and I am sure with less sleep then any of us is used to. Pray for us! 😉

Kana was informed by one of the nurses at Kaizuka Hospital that she got the wrong discharge date. Her and Grace will be coming home on Tuesday, December 27th around 12:00 noon instead of Monday as we originally thought.

Kana is a little impatient about coming home, but I told her that it was quite nice to have all these nurses available to her so she can rest up and be ready for when the real work begins…when the girls get home.

I am just finishing off a video of young Grace Yuki Mercer…and in the video I use the song “Grace” by U2 from the “All That You Can't Leave Behind” album. I thought I might post the lyrics here as I think, I am sure you will agree, are quite awesome.

Grace

by U2

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

Hello Everyone. I am back from the hospital with some more pictures and some more information on how today unfolded. God is good.

Well you should have known all of this by now but my email list failed me.

Grace Yuki Mercer was born this morning at 10:17AM JST. She weighs 2.9KG or 2900 grams.

Kana started having contractions around 3:30AM, when I got up she was like “Hmm Honey…the baby is coming.” So Chie, Mom, Kana and I piled into Chie’s car and headed to Kaizuka Hospital (about a 15 minute drive away). There she was whisked into the delivery room where I joined her soon after. The Nurses and Doctors said that Kana’s delivery was awesome because it was so short and there were no complications. In fact Kana gave a 100% natural child birth…no drugs or nothing…YOU GO MAMA!

Kana will stay in the hospital until Monday the 26th (so we are postponing Christmas until our BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER can make it home from the hospital). It was tough leaving her there tonight, but she is in good hands as is Grace.

So yeah, apparently my mailing list failed this morning so no one got the emails as it happened. YIKES! I have included a copy of the emails I sent from my cell phone:

7:23AM
Okay everyone, Kana has gone into labour and we are heading to the hospital as we speak. I will be emailing updates from my cell phone to this list as things progress. We appreciate your prayers at this crucial time for the Baby Mercer!

8:07AM JST
We just arrived at Kaizuka Hospital. Kana’s contractions are 5 minutes apart! More to follow…

11:11AM JST
Hey! Grace Yuki Mercer was born at 10:17AM JST weighing in at 2.9KG! Mom and Grace are doing GREAT!

5:42PM JST
Grace hanging out! BY THE WAY you can reply to these emails from my cell phone just keep em short! (this email had the Baby Room [see below] picture attached originally)

Okay well there ya go! I think everyone is up to speed now. If you want to email some wishes to Kana you can to her cell phone (she has it at the hospital)! Below are some pictures for your enjoyment! Click them for larger images.

Daughter Grace with Mom Kana shortly after being born

Grace hanging out in the Baby Room with “The Gang”

Grace sleeping in the Baby Room

Craig & Kana…the Happy Parents

Grace Yuki Mercer joined the family this morning at 10:17AM JST (Japan Standard Time). She weighs 2.9KG and is just great.

Grace Yuki Mercer

We are just heading back up to Kaizuka Hospital now to see Kana and Grace. I will post some more pictures and video when we get back.

I visited the hospital for a regular check-up on November 2nd and we finally got to know the baby is a girl. YET, we still have to have that “There is always a chance of 0.1% happens” in our mind as what happened to us when we got pregnant and my friend Tomo got a baby boy when she had been told she was going to have a girl….

Anyway, the little girl has been growing in my tummy just fine and she weighs 1,932 grams now. I did the ultra sound check at the check-up and a doctor measured the size of the baby's head and waist, the length of the legs and the arms and everything was just perfect as if she was the one on a textbook! When the doctor tried to take a picture of her face, she was facing to a different way, however she turned herself so that we could see her face responding the doctor's request! My Mom and I found she looks like Craig in that picture.

I have been staying in a good health, which is good. Since I had been told I gained too much weight, in Japan women are taught to keep her weight not to gain more than 2kg in a month. By the way, I started to eat lots of beans instead of rice and I think it has been working very good.

Craig and I will have a “Parents Class” on the 19th of November as a preparation for us to do a big thing together on the special day. So we will tell you all about it later. It is going to be fun.

Hey, in Japanese custom we take a new born baby to a shrine to celebrate his/her birth and to wish his/her happiness, and Craig and I have decided we are not going to do it. Now I would like to ask you people who have read this article what do you do when you have a baby in your family in Canada? Is there any custom things? Should we prepare anything? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Last Sunday, Kana and I got together with her best friends for a burger. There was Tomo, her husband Koichi and their baby Yusuke. Rie was there, a bit tired from work being so busy. Junya and Ai were also there which was great because they became engaged to be married on August 24th (Ai’s birthday) and it was our first chance to celebrate with them…WAY TO GO GUYS!

We went to a restaurant at Namba Parks (a big shopping centre in Osaka) called Kua ‘Aina (http://www.kua-aina.com/) which is a franchise of the really famous burger joint on the far side of Oahu, Hawaii.

The burgers were huge. Kana and I opted for the Bacon, Lettuce Tomato Sandwiches and they were awesome. Everyone else went for one of the burgers that came with a whole avocado on them. YIKES!

We had a great time eating and shopping in Namba Parks. If you ever get a chance to go to Namba Parks you will not be dissapointed. It is very open and airy with lots of plants and of course excellent stores.

Kua Aina at Namba Parks

KaToRiShiA at Kua Aina

Hello All.

Thank you so much for all your emails of blessing to Kana and I! We have really enjoyed reading them and hope to be able to respond to most of them soon.

Of course the biggest question on everyone's mind is: “When is the little Mercer due?“. Well God willing and all that good stuff, the Doc figures that Kana is due on December 30th. So sounds like a New Years Baby if all goes well.

The second biggest question is “Where are you having the baby?”. We are planning to have the baby here in Osaka.

Kana's morning, afternoon and evening sickness has been pretty brutal and we are hoping that like all the research says, she should start feeling better by the end of week 14….which means only 3 more weeks to go…FRICKA FRACKA!

I knew being pregnant was not easy but I have a new found respect for all Mother's. Thank You Moms.

Okay, that is a little quick update on what is happening. Hope you all are doing awesome.