Loretta passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her residence in San Francisco on October 6, 2018. She was 77 years young. Loretta was born March 7, 1941, in San Francisco to parents Edward Merat of San Francisco and Marie Steman Merat of Minnesota.
Edward died when Loretta was 3 years old at which time her paternal grandmother, Ida Merat, helped Marie raise both Loretta and her younger sister. Loretta attended St. Brendan Grammar School and St. Rose Academy High School. Loretta initially worked for Bank of America and St. Francis Hospital before joining the office of Sins and Goodwin, later Goodwin Realty.
Loretta managed the realty office and had her own sales career as an accomplished realtor. Loretta adored living in San Francisco and her 14 years in Sausalito. She loved entertaining and could give the best ever driving tour of her native city.
She was a gourmet cook and an incredible hostess. She had traveled extensively to the Far East, Hawaii, the Holy Land, and Europe. For years she made annual trips to visit family in Minnesota and joined family vacationing at Sanibel Island in Florida.
Loretta was an incredible aunt to her nephew and nieces as well as an honorary aunt to her friends’ children and extended family’s children. She was delighted and proud whenever she was chosen as Godmother. Loretta was a faithful friend with her friendships dating back to grammar school and high school.
She was an avid supporter of the Little Sisters of the Poor and served on the Board of the Catholic Professional Women’s Club. Loretta moved to the Sequoias Senior Living in San Francisco in 2011. She loved the activities, her lunch table group, her many friends, and the wonderful staff support.
Loretta’s love of game playing thrived at the Sequoias with numerous evenings playing Mahjong and Quirkle. Loretta is survived by her sister Barbara Hughes, nephew Robert Hughes, nieces Carolyn Hughes and Bridget Hughes, and her aunt Terese Miller of Edina, Minnesota, as well as numerous cousins and wonderful friends. There will be a Funeral Mass for Loretta on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at 11:00 AM at St. Brendan’s Church located at 29 Rockaway Avenue in San Francisco, California.
All are invited to a reception following in the St. Brendan’s Church Hall. Private inurnment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California at a later date. The family would appreciate any donation made in Loretta’s name be made to Little Sisters of the Poor; the CPW Scholarship Fund, P.O.Box 31348, San Francisco, CA, 94131; SFArc, St.Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or a charity of your choice.
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