Joanna "Joey" Mercier

Joanna Mercier passed away from natural causes on November 2, 2025. Born as Aura Mirjam Säntti in Finland on October 1, 1926, she grew up in Milford and was a member of the class of 1944 at Milford High School, adopting Joanna as her "American" name. She was the only child of John Peter Säntti and Julia (Lokkinen) Säntti.

During her senior year, she married Phillip Albert Mercier, Jr of Nashua NH. They moved to Nashua before moving to Los Angeles in 1950. Three children came along in the 1950's - daughter Julie Anne, son Phillip Albert III, and son Keith David.

Joanna worked hard for her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and became a social worker for Los Angeles County in 1969. She later earned her Master's degree in Gerontology from California State University in Dominguez Hills. Her greatest love was Greek folk dancing at the various church festivals and dance clubs in Southern California.

She was predeceased by her former husband Phillip in 2000, both of her sons in 2017 and a cousin, Robert A. Johnson.

She is survived by her daughter Julie (Petri) Kuusilehto of Finland along with 3 great grandchildren, James Imperio, Meghan Imperio, and Oceania Imperio of Glendale California, second cousins in New Hampshire, including, Dale R. Johnson and Jeffrey B. Johnson, and cousins abroad in Finland.

Joanna will be buried in Riverside Cemetery between her parents after graveside services on August 26, 2026.