Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this email. On Saturday, September 3, 2022, my mother, Merceded Torrico, passed away in Greensboro, NC.

Below is her obituary that is posted at the funeral home, but I wanted to share one story in my newsletter.

In her early 20s, mom was a hairdresser in Peru and worked in Miraflores, this was the late 50s and early 60s, and many of her coworkers would travel back home during lunchtime to eat. Seeing this was very unproductive, she asked the salon owner if she could open up a smoothie and sandwich stand at the shop. The owner agreed, and that's how she launched her small business. She later opened a second stand with her sister. Funny story: One day, Dad was hungry and stopped by Mom's food stand. Many months later, they started dating. They were together for 52 years.

As far as I remember, mom always found a way to make extra money for the family through side hustles, and this is one of the many lessons I took away from her. You can always make money to support your family if you produce quality work or service.

Mercedes Raquel Torrico, 84, of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

Mercedes was born in Lima, Peru, on June 1, 1938. Mercedes, a hairdresser and small business owner ran two small smoothie stands in Lima. On December 28, 1980, she landed at JFK Airport with her three kids to reunite with her loving husband and embark on a new life in the United States.

Mercedes was an active member of her church, Jesus Christ Tabernacle in Queens, New York and has been loved by all since 1986 and recently, she was a member of the Worship Place in Greensboro, NC.

She leaves behind her husband, Mauro Bauman Torrico, of 52 years; two sons, Marco Antonio Valcarcel and wife, Giovanna Valcarcel, Juan Cesareo Torrico and wife, Mary Ann Torrico; one daughter, Angelica Mercedes Torrico and husband, Jonathan Woodbury; ten grandchildren, Christian, Samatha, Gabriela, Samuel, Hannah, Raquel, and Yitzhak Valcarcel, Lucia Maureen Torrico, Santiago and Joel Woodbury; sister, Josefina Edelmira Romero Vidal and a host of nieces and nephews in the United States and Peru.

Mercedes was preceded in death by her mother, Isabel Vidal, and her father, Jose Torres.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 9, at The Worship Place, 1807 Merritt Drive. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Park, 3600 North O'Henry Boulevard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Our family and friends have come together to help Dad cover the cost of the funeral, but we appreciate any donation to reach this goal. The funds will go towards Mom's funeral expenses. 

https://gofund.me/27534f96