Barbara Belen Merjil

Barbara Belen Merjil, a lifelong resident of Tracy, died of natural causes on May 11 at the Hospice House in Stockton. She was 66.

Merjil was born Barbara Belen Rodriguez on March 6, 1942 in Livermore. She was a cosmetologist for 30 years in Tracy, and also worked for 18 years in food services at the Laboratory.

She was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, shopping and spending time with her family and her dog, Bailey.

Merjil is survived by: her parents, John and Esther Rodriguez of Tracy; her husband of 40 years, Pat Merjil of Tracy; her daughter, Stacy Merjil of Stockton; a sister and brother, Diane Marie Taylor of Tracy and James Michael Rodriguez of San Jose; two nieces, Dawn Taylor of Tracy and Nicole Rodriguez of San Jose; a great-niece, Athena Ruiz of San Jose; and her special friends, Art and Nancy Hernandez of Stockton, Delphina Nunez, Nettie and Art Curtis, Angie Navarro and Bev and Jack Nielson, all of Tracy.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Fredric John Rodriguez, in 2000.

A mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Tracy.

Donations in Merjil’s memory may be sent to Hospice of San Joaquin, 3838 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95204.