Anna Mercado

Anna Mercado, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, devoted servant of God, and fearless woman of faith, entered eternal rest on June 13, 2025 at the age of 65.

Born on December 18, 1959 in Buffalo, NY, to the late Carmen Mercado and the late Teodosio Mercado. She moved and lived the rest of her day in Camden, New Jersey.

Anna lived a life that was anything but ordinary. She was a prayer warrior, a caregiver, an encourager, and a living testimony of God's redeeming power.

Anna’s passion became serving others. She was a strong, devoted mother to her only daughter, Elizabeth, her pride and joy. She was a caregiver for her mother for 16 years, lovingly supporting her until her passing just last year around this time, and also for her sister Rosa before she died in 2018.

She faithfully visited the sick and shut-in at local nursing homes, rehab centers, and hospitals, often praying for those in their final days and hours and ministering the hope of salvation to them. Her greatest joy was seeing lives transformed by the power of God. We often joked that she was “the busiest unemployed person” anyone knew—always on the move for the Lord.

A woman of deep spiritual discipline, Anna prayed several times a day and read her Bible faithfully; she wasn’t just a long skirt-wearing Christian. She began her mornings in Psalms, Proverbs, and the Old Testament, and ended her days with adding chapters from the New Testament. Her home was filled with prayer, worship, and the Word. She loved God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.

Anna’s life is also a powerful story of redemption. After 24 years on drugs, God answered our prayers, and she overcame drug addiction through Jesus Christ and joyfully celebrated 24 years of sobriety. She used her testimony to uplift and encourage others battling addiction, always pointing them back to the God who had set her free.

She loved to clean, cook, and create a welcoming environment—but most of all, she loved winning souls for the Lord. Her life was a ministry, her words carried healing, and her faith left a mark that will never fade. She loved to acknowledge birthdays with cards, texts, and sometimes with enough money to pay for a meal as her gift.

Unfortunately, on May 7th, Anna was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and three days later, she entered home hospice care in her daughter’s home. Yet, even in her final days, she ministered from her bed of affliction, encouraging others with unwavering strength and compassion until she could speak no more. She was fearless until the end, taking her last breath at 5:18 pm.

Anna leaves to cherish her life, her only daughter, Elizabeth Bright (Alexander), her three grandsons, Taije Jones, Jeremiah Bright, and Timothy Bright, her granddaughter Lae’Asia Jones, and two great-grandchildren, Kae’den and Legacy. She was a devoted sister to Santos Gonzalez, Milton Mercado (Patricia), Edwin Mercado (Stephanie), Carmen Leftwich (Charles), Luis Mercado, Jose Mercado, John Mercado, Nilda Lopez, Guadalupe Mercado, Naomi Mercado, Elisabet Mercado, David Mercado (Elisabeth), MaryLuz Mercado, Ramonita Mercado, Tedisio Mercado, Miguel Mercado, and Richard Mercado. She was preceded in death by three of her dear siblings, Rosa Torres, Carlos Cruz, and Leonora Gonzalez. Anna is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Gates of Praise COG, 6345 Wisteria Ave, Pennsauken, NJ, with the viewing beginning at 9 am and the service to follow at 10:30 am. She will be laid to rest at Morgan Cemetery in Cinnaminson, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the funeral fund on GoFundMe to support Anna’s homegoing celebration.

“Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
—Isaiah 41:10

May her legacy of faith, love, and service live on in every soul she touched.