Dellas Paradis, age 95, passed from this life on Saturday July 4th, 2026. She was currently residing at Fair Meadows Nursing Home in Fertile, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brooks, MN with Father Tim Bushy presiding. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Brooks, MN. Lunch will follow the burial at Brooks Community Center.

Dellas Marie Mercil was born during the Great Depression on January 28, 1931 to Louis & Louise (Champagne) Mercil. She was the fifth child of six to grow up on the family farm south of Brooks, along Old Hwy 59. She recalled as a young girl how her father would often help motorists stuck in the spring mud.

Dellas attended grades 1-8 at the Brooks school. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church where she became an active life-long member. As a teenager Dellas experienced WWII, the war effort, and rationing. Having a big garden was expected.

At a local wedding dance Dellas met her life partner. On November 3, 1949 she married Ronald James Paradis from Terrebonne, MN uniting two large French Canadian families. They made their home in Brooks welcoming their first son Bryan in 1950. Ron was called into service for the Korean War before Roger arrived in 1952, so with the help of extended family Dellas began raising their family.

When Ron returned, daughter Carol was born 1955. Arnold followed in 1958, with "Caboose" Lonnie trailing along in 1967.

During those early family years Ron & Dellas ran the Brooks grocery, living at the back of the store. Ron travelled for various construction jobs until he acquired mail route contracts. Dellas ran the store and helped with the driving, often having Lonnie napping under the store counter or asleep in the mail van. Later Dellas ran the corner Antique & Gift Shop specializing in oak reproduction furniture, glassware, and china. Ron & Dellas were true partners in their business ventures. Dellas was ahead of her time as a woman in business.

She and Ron were avid collectors. Dellas especially enjoyed her china dolls, tea sets, and fashion. They both loved to socialize, making friends throughout the US and Canada with their collecting & sales. Dellas was a great cook; eager to provide not simply a meal, but a full table spread. At holiday time she'd make her special meat pies. She always kept busy, crocheting hundreds of doilies, tablecloths, and afghans.

They wintered in Florida beginning in 1978, first building a home in Golden Gate (near Naples), then Leesburg, and Cape Canaveral. Vacation memories include flea market visits and picking lots of fresh fruit. They hosted many friends & family enjoying the FL sun.

Ron passed in 2010 and Dellas moved to Country Place Apartments. She eventually moved to Pioneer Care, before residing in her current home of Fair Meadows in Fertile. In each place Dellas made dear friends and had wonderful care-givers. Her eyesight began to fail about 3 years ago, but she still loved to have visitors and kept clear memories.

Faith and family were precious to her. She will be remembered for her kind heart, fun-loving laugh, generous hospitality, deep devotion, strong work ethic, and patient endurance with Ron's shenanigans!

Dellas passed from this life on July 4th, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband Ron, parents Louis & Louise Mercil, her brothers Don (Gen) Mercil, Everill Mercil, & Lloyd Mercil, sister Donna (Willard) Bergeron, and sisters-in-law Lorraine Mercil & Ann Mercil. Also preceding her were her in-laws Ernest & Dora Paradis and many of her Paradis relations.

She is survived by one sister Madeline (Parnell) Thibert of Dixon, IL and one sister-in-law Irene (Al) Miller of Bonita Springs FL & Terrebonne, MN.

Dellas is survived by her children: Bryan (Eldora) Paradis of Cape Canaveral, FL & Alexandria, MN, Roger (MaryJane) Paradis of Cape Canaveral, FL & Fargo, ND, Carol (Leland) Saga of Fertile, MN, Arnold Paradis of Erskine, MN & Punta Gorda, FL, Lonnie (Kenya) Paradis of Erskine, MN & daughter-in-law Pam Paradis of Brooks, MN.

15 grandchildren: Jeremy (Lisa), Sarah (Chad), Samantha (Joe), Heather (Todd), Heidi (Jeremy), Lea (Rick), Lacey (Chris), KayLee (Jacob), Ryan (Kelsey), Chelsey (Dane), Ethan (Kali), Amanda (Tyler), Spencer, Olivia, Charlie

28 great-grandchildren: Kaleigh, Savannah, Summer, Brooke, Alexis, Kallyn, Joe, Blair (Jordyn), Brynn (Lucas), Baylor, Mya, Aubrey, Reeve, Layne, Crosby, Charlotte, Isabelle, Kingston, Titan, Carter, Annika, Hadley, Brooks, Alaina, Josie, Cannon, Peyton, Piper

6 great-great-grandchildren: Tyler, Kristopher, Mariah, Asher, Norah, Landry

...and an extended family of numerous, beloved, Mercil & Paradis nieces & nephews.

Blessed be the memory of Dellas Marie Paradis.