Marie Mercedes Monaco

December 30, 1933 - May 11, 2011

M. Mercedes Leger (Gralino) Monaco, 77, of Port Arthur, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont, Texas. She was born December 30, 1933, in Cankton, Louisiana to Ferroil Leger and Emetilde Duplechin Leger. She has been a resident of Port Arthur over 50 years. "Mercy", better known to friends and family, owned and operated Gralines Diner with her husband, Bernard Gralino, on Gulfway Drive. Ben and Mercy proudly served daily lunches and dinner to employees of Gulf State Utilities (GSU), Port Arthur Gas Company, Port Arthur jail detainees, and Thomas Jefferson students. She was a member of The Department Club, Iota Iota Chapter, Italian Club, Texaco Retirees, Chevron Retirees Association, Red Hat Club, Christian Women, Golden Triangle Square and Round Dance Association, and was a volunteer for Hospice. Mercy is preceded in death by her parents, Ferroil and Emtilde Leger, husbands Bernard Gralino and Charles Monaco, sister Eucarice "Tee" Foret and brother Leroy Leger. She is survived by her sons Thomas and wife Danese Gralino of Groves, Texas, and James and wife Imia (Denise) Gralino, of Nederland, Texas, granddaughter Gabrielle Gralino of Groves and step-grandchildren James, Kassie, and Carolyn Watkins of Nederland. Sister Levoys "Lee" and husband R.J. Venable of Spring, Texas, brother Lenry and wife Gwen Leger of Louisiana, and numerous nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are R. J. Venable, l. J. Judice, Lenry Leger, Glen Mabry, August Foret, Mark Doerfler, James Watkins.