Mercedes Riofrio
08/29/1935 - 12/11/2025
Mercedes Riofrio, age 90, of San Carlos, passed away Thursday, December 11, 2025. Born in Baguio, Philippines on August 29, 1935, Mercedes Riofrio-affectionately known as "Baby"-was a natural leader with a spirited heart. One of 13 children of the late Mariano and Rosario Gutierrez, she grew up in occupied Manila during WWII, an experience that forged her resilience. She later met her husband, Louis, during his Korean War service; they married six years later and moved to Oakland, California, where Mercedes took immense pride in raising their four children and becoming a U.S. citizen.
A lifelong educator, Mercedes earned two master's degrees and conducted doctoral research at NYU. Whether she was cheering at basketball games in her youth or serving in the Peace Corps in Romania in her late 60s, she lived with purpose. She spent her later years traveling between New York, California, and Hawaii, always surrounded by family. She loved a good book, a tennis match, and a trip to Las Vegas. Predeceased in 2000 by her husband Louis, she leaves behind a loving family of four children, Louise, Martin, Melissa, and Maria-and her sister, Angelina Frey.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11, 2026.

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Pat Murphy

January 11, 2026

Melissa, I am sorry to learn of your mother´s death. What an incredible life of service she led. Sending you love and a warm hug.

Angelina M Frey

January 7, 2026

Rest in Eternal PEACE, dear older sister Mercedes, as well as all our 12 siblings. each one my inspiration to donate my time to the needy. Mercedes devoted two decades of her life, leaving the comfort of her home in California to travel to unknown territories in other continents to give hope and care for the impoverished, and marginalized families, She saved lives of countless orphans abandoned in streets of Romania, as well as helping disabled Asian Indians earn a living that provided their starving families with farm-fresh food from their field work. In Mali, Africa, she taught children of US AID volunteers and spent time with the impoverished Africans. She spent TWENTY years of her life in distant places of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, southern Philippines and the Caribbean doing charity work. The Good Lord will definitely give her a very comfortable spot next to Him, enjoying eternal life along with my ever charitable Parents and siblings. She deserves her eternal rest, after all her humanitarian work for decades. Enjoy Eternal Life with Mama, Papa and all our siblings. Your "Little Sister", in this family photo, seated on the floor next to you.
Angelina Gutierrez-Frey

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