Jacqueline "Jackie" Mertens

Jackie Mertens, 85, a resident of Albuquerque since 2013, passed away on October 20, 2019. She resided at Haven Care and was under the guardianship of nephews William (Bill) Mertens of Albuquerque and Daniel Reifsteck of Rhode Island.
Jackie was born May 20, 1934 in New York to Jacob and Emmy Mertens. She had a serious illness with a high fever at about age five that impacted her mental abilities. She couldn’t keep up in school and dropped out in second grade. Her parents had the choice to send her away or keep her home, and they kept her home her entire childhood and adult life until they passed away. Her life included considerable travel and activities with her parents and family.
After her parents’ passing, Jackie lived with a family friend, Bertha Gippert, on a small farm in Saugerties, New York for 27 years. During that time, she continued visits with her brother and sister, Richard Mertens and Barbara (Bobbie) Reifsteck.
On Bertha’s passing, Jackie moved to Albuquerque where she was actively included in the Mertens’ family life.
Jackie lived a joyful life filled with simple pleasures and she wore a constant smile. She loved animals, especially dogs and cats. Jackie enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and art; loved food with a special love for ice cream; enjoyed soap operas; loved seeing hot air balloons, butterflies and flowers. She was always eager to have her photo taken with her many friends, caregivers and loved ones.
Throughout her life, she was surrounded and loved by family and friends.
She is survived by her sister, Barbara (Bobbie) Reifsteck; nephews, Daniel Reifsteck, Jeffrey Reifsteck, Tom Reifsteck (Amber), and William Mertens (Brenda); niece, Janice Dahl (William); and many great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Richard Mertens (Georgia); and William Mertens’ wife, Janice.
Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 2, 2019, 3:00 p.m., at FRENCH - Westside, 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to MHA (Mental Health America), 500 Montgomery Street, Suite 820, Alexandria, VA 22314 or mhanational.org.