The story of Maria Morrow starts with a baby girl who wasn't given much hope of living.
Morrow was born Dec. 20, 1955, with multiple disabilities that convinced doctors she wouldn't survive.
Morrow's story became intertwined with what's now called Holy Angels when her mother, Dorothy Powell, asked the Sisters of Mercy to care for her 1-year-old child after the baby became seriously ill in 1956. The Sisters of Mercy operated a day care center in Belmont at the time, and Morrow flourished under the nuns' careful care and medical attention. Other parents who had children with multiple disabilities and mental retardation began asking the Sisters of Mercy for help, and the sisters set up a home to care for those children.
The first resident of Holy Angels passed away on Tuesday from complications during surgery at Gaston Memorial Hospital. She was 54.
"For me, I have truly lost a dear friend and a wonderful inspiration," said Sister Nancy Nance, Holy Angels vice president of community relations. "She was the face (of Holy Angels). She was the spirit."
Morrow didn't let her disabilities slow her down. Morrow attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, which was operated by the Sisters of Mercy and was a member of the Girl Scouts.
She traveled to Ireland, took cruise vacations, took a kayak ride and felt the splash of waves from the ocean at Ocean Isle.
She began working at Holy Angels in 1975. She worked as receptionist at Holy Angels Morrow Center in the mornings and at Cherubs Candy Bouquet in the afternoons.
Regina Moody, Holy Angels' president and chief executive officer, established the Maria T. Morrow Spirit Award in 2005 to recognize others who displayed the same spirit, determination and unconditional love for others.
"She was certainly an inspiration to anyone who met her or knew her," Moody said. "She'll be remembered for her great spirit and dignity and grace."
The Main Center of Holy Angels was renamed the Morrow Center in 2006 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Angels.
Morrow had a can-do, upbeat attitude and always cared about others, Moody said.
"Truly, she loved unconditionally," Moody said. "There weren't too many things that she wouldn't try or do."
Holy Angels' legacy of love will continue even after Morrow's death, Moody said.
"She always used to tease and say, ‘If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here,'" Moody said. "Maria had a great purpose in life on earth, and I know she has a great purpose in heaven."
Morrow was born Dec. 20, 1955, with multiple disabilities that convinced doctors she wouldn't survive.
Morrow's story became intertwined with what's now called Holy Angels when her mother, Dorothy Powell, asked the Sisters of Mercy to care for her 1-year-old child after the baby became seriously ill in 1956. The Sisters of Mercy operated a day care center in Belmont at the time, and Morrow flourished under the nuns' careful care and medical attention. Other parents who had children with multiple disabilities and mental retardation began asking the Sisters of Mercy for help, and the sisters set up a home to care for those children.
The first resident of Holy Angels passed away on Tuesday from complications during surgery at Gaston Memorial Hospital. She was 54.
"For me, I have truly lost a dear friend and a wonderful inspiration," said Sister Nancy Nance, Holy Angels vice president of community relations. "She was the face (of Holy Angels). She was the spirit."
Morrow didn't let her disabilities slow her down. Morrow attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, which was operated by the Sisters of Mercy and was a member of the Girl Scouts.
She traveled to Ireland, took cruise vacations, took a kayak ride and felt the splash of waves from the ocean at Ocean Isle.
She began working at Holy Angels in 1975. She worked as receptionist at Holy Angels Morrow Center in the mornings and at Cherubs Candy Bouquet in the afternoons.
Regina Moody, Holy Angels' president and chief executive officer, established the Maria T. Morrow Spirit Award in 2005 to recognize others who displayed the same spirit, determination and unconditional love for others.
"She was certainly an inspiration to anyone who met her or knew her," Moody said. "She'll be remembered for her great spirit and dignity and grace."
The Main Center of Holy Angels was renamed the Morrow Center in 2006 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Angels.
Morrow had a can-do, upbeat attitude and always cared about others, Moody said.
"Truly, she loved unconditionally," Moody said. "There weren't too many things that she wouldn't try or do."
Holy Angels' legacy of love will continue even after Morrow's death, Moody said.
"She always used to tease and say, ‘If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here,'" Moody said. "Maria had a great purpose in life on earth, and I know she has a great purpose in heaven."
The story of Maria Morrow starts with a baby girl who wasn't given much hope of living.
Morrow was born Dec. 20, 1955, with multiple disabilities that convinced doctors she wouldn't survive.
Morrow's story became intertwined with what's now called Holy Angels when her mother, Dorothy Powell, asked the Sisters of Mercy to care for her 1-year-old child after the baby became seriously ill in 1956. The Sisters of Mercy operated a day care center in Belmont at the time, and Morrow flourished under the nuns' careful care and medical attention. Other parents who had children with multiple disabilities and mental retardation began asking the Sisters of Mercy for help, and the sisters set up a home to care for those children.
The first resident of Holy Angels passed away on Tuesday from complications during surgery at Gaston Memorial Hospital. She was 54.
"For me, I have truly lost a dear friend and a wonderful inspiration," said Sister Nancy Nance, Holy Angels vice president of community relations. "She was the face (of Holy Angels). She was the spirit."
Morrow didn't let her disabilities slow her down. Morrow attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, which was operated by the Sisters of Mercy and was a member of the Girl Scouts.
She traveled to Ireland, took cruise vacations, took a kayak ride and felt the splash of waves from the ocean at Ocean Isle.
She began working at Holy Angels in 1975. She worked as receptionist at Holy Angels Morrow Center in the mornings and at Cherubs Candy Bouquet in the afternoons.
Regina Moody, Holy Angels' president and chief executive officer, established the Maria T. Morrow Spirit Award in 2005 to recognize others who displayed the same spirit, determination and unconditional love for others.
"She was certainly an inspiration to anyone who met her or knew her," Moody said. "She'll be remembered for her great spirit and dignity and grace."
The Main Center of Holy Angels was renamed the Morrow Center in 2006 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Angels.
Morrow had a can-do, upbeat attitude and always cared about others, Moody said.
"Truly, she loved unconditionally," Moody said. "There weren't too many things that she wouldn't try or do."
Holy Angels' legacy of love will continue even after Morrow's death, Moody said.
"She always used to tease and say, ‘If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here,'" Moody said. "Maria had a great purpose in life on earth, and I know she has a great purpose in heaven."
Morrow was born Dec. 20, 1955, with multiple disabilities that convinced doctors she wouldn't survive.
Morrow's story became intertwined with what's now called Holy Angels when her mother, Dorothy Powell, asked the Sisters of Mercy to care for her 1-year-old child after the baby became seriously ill in 1956. The Sisters of Mercy operated a day care center in Belmont at the time, and Morrow flourished under the nuns' careful care and medical attention. Other parents who had children with multiple disabilities and mental retardation began asking the Sisters of Mercy for help, and the sisters set up a home to care for those children.
The first resident of Holy Angels passed away on Tuesday from complications during surgery at Gaston Memorial Hospital. She was 54.
"For me, I have truly lost a dear friend and a wonderful inspiration," said Sister Nancy Nance, Holy Angels vice president of community relations. "She was the face (of Holy Angels). She was the spirit."
Morrow didn't let her disabilities slow her down. Morrow attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, which was operated by the Sisters of Mercy and was a member of the Girl Scouts.
She traveled to Ireland, took cruise vacations, took a kayak ride and felt the splash of waves from the ocean at Ocean Isle.
She began working at Holy Angels in 1975. She worked as receptionist at Holy Angels Morrow Center in the mornings and at Cherubs Candy Bouquet in the afternoons.
Regina Moody, Holy Angels' president and chief executive officer, established the Maria T. Morrow Spirit Award in 2005 to recognize others who displayed the same spirit, determination and unconditional love for others.
"She was certainly an inspiration to anyone who met her or knew her," Moody said. "She'll be remembered for her great spirit and dignity and grace."
The Main Center of Holy Angels was renamed the Morrow Center in 2006 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Angels.
Morrow had a can-do, upbeat attitude and always cared about others, Moody said.
"Truly, she loved unconditionally," Moody said. "There weren't too many things that she wouldn't try or do."
Holy Angels' legacy of love will continue even after Morrow's death, Moody said.
"She always used to tease and say, ‘If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here,'" Moody said. "Maria had a great purpose in life on earth, and I know she has a great purpose in heaven."
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