Mercedes Marguerite Adams was born in Bougie, French Algeria on January 21, 1923 and died January 21, 2012 at Hospice Home, Raleigh.

Mercedes grew up in Algiers, Algeria. She attended the convent at Notre Dame d’Afrique and later worked in the French Government Headquarters of Generals DeGaulle and DeLattre deTassigny during World War II. She married her husband John Adams, a petty officer on a mine sweeper for the British Royal Navy, in 1944.

After her marriage, Mercedes moved to her husband’s hometown of Greenock, Scotland where her daughter Paulette was born. After the war, Mercedes and her family lived in Canada; White Plains, NY; Elmsford, NY and finally, Cary, NC.

Mercedes, mother, grand-mother, and great-grand-mother, is survived by John Adams, her husband of 68 years, her daughter Paulette, and son-in-law, Jerry Jaeger. Her grandson, John Hoeg, married Carol Hawley of Coats, NC. They have a son, Jack. Mercedes’ other grandson, James Hoeg, married KeAnne Tomlinson of Mocksville, NC, and they have a young son named, Daniel.

In her 89 years, Mercedes lived on three continents, spoke three languages and experienced the Spanish Civil War, the Algerian War, and World War II. Mercedes, however, made her family and its comfort her top priority. She was young-at-heart to the end and fought hard to overcome her recent illness. Fiercely loyal and devoted to her family, she will be missed greatly.

A private funeral mass and internment was held on Friday, January 27 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cary.