Caregiver For Troubled Youth, NJ Woman Remembered For Her Love Of Others

CINNAMINSON, NJ — A local woman who spent her life helping troubled youth in the region died on August 29 after a long battle with cancer.

Mercedez Rivera Durkin, 61, of Cinnaminson, worked at a therapeutic day care at the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and as a high school aide for kids who were expelled or dropped out of public school.

"My wife navigated towards those who may have felt undervalued and/or faced serious hardships in life," Neil Durkin said in speaking with Patch.

She was also employed for years at the Camden Campbell's corporate headquarters in its on-site daycare.

A graduate of Pennsauken High School and Rutgers University Camden, Mercedez was a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan and defied the baseball universe when she decided to marry a New York Mets fan in 1999.

She and Neil first met at longtime area staple "Jay's Elbow Room" bar through a mutual friend and went on to build a life of sports and theatre-inspired adventures.

Building off their shared love of theatre, the Durkins would routinely donate money to area theatre groups that were underserved in order to help give opportunities to aspiring performers.

The "Ritz Theater Company" in Oaklyn became a favorite of the couple, so much so that the family is asking for donations in the form of going to see a show at the facility in honor of Mercedes in lieu of flowers.

One favorite the couple didn't agree on was a favorite baseball player, to which Mercedez favored fan-favorite Phillies outfielder Gregg "The Bull" Luzinski.

While Veterans Stadium, and later Citizens Bank Park, always held the way to her heart, the Durkins also enjoyed traveling and were able to visit ballparks of all 30 Major League Baseball teams.

"San Francisco was her other favorite," according to Durkin. "It was beautiful there."

While the energy she gave back to the lives of area youth may have made a loud impact, Mercedes was mostly a shy person whose level of empathy was marveled at by others.

"My wife would be talking to someone in a store, and before you knew it, she would have heard their life story," added Durkin.

It was always about others before herself, a lasting legacy her husband hopes the countless children she helped take with them as they build their own lives.

"I just hope they know that while they may feel lost at times," Durkin said, "that someone out there cares. That's what Mercedez would have wanted."

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