Obituary of Mercedez Durkin

Mercedez Rivera Durkin, 61, of Cinnaminson, died August 29, 2026, after a long battle with cancer.

Mercedez was an avid Philadelphia sports fan, especially her beloved Phillies.  She was a theater buff and attended a live performance weekly.  She and her husband helped support several local theater groups over the years in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Mercedez enjoyed traveling.  She and her husband combined their love of baseball and travel and visited every major league ballpark.  She also enjoyed the Caribbean and was beginning to explore Europe.

Mercedez spent most of her life in childcare.  She worked several years at the daycare at Campbell’s corporate office in Camden.  She preferred to work with children with difficulties.  She worked at the therapeutic day care at the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and as an aide at a charter high school for children that had been previously expelled or dropped out of public school.  She was a graduate of Pennsauken High School and Rutgers University in Camden.

She was dedicated to her family.  She is survived by her husband, Neil Durkin, Esquire, and her son Christopher Durkin, both of Cinnaminson.  She is also survived by her mother, Olga Rivera, of Pennsauken;  three brothers, Pablo Rivera of Carthage, N.C., Eddie Rivera of Pennsauken, and Jose Rivera of Atco; three sisters, Wanda Fiandra of Sicklerville, Elvia Cianfrani of Pennsauken, and Kathleen Tapp of Voorhees; 11 nieces and nephews, and 21 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.  Her father Pablo Rivera Sr. and her brother Rey Rivera, both of Pennsauken, predeceased her.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation and Funeral on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 6-8 PM and Friday, September 4, 2026, from 10-11 AM at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road.  A Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 11 AM.  Interment will take place at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson. 

In lieu of flowers or as a remembrance to her, the family requests donations in her name be made to the Ritz Theater Company in Oaklyn.  Donations can be made at http://www.ritztheatreco.org.  She would prefer that rather than donate, you buy tickets and go see a show in her honor.