Mary Morris

Born in Philadelphia on April 3, 1929, Mary Rose (Parento) Morris (89) peacefully united with her Lord and Savior and previously deceased husband of 65 years, George C. Morris.

Mary is survived by six children: Mary Rose Hondros and husband John and their children Gregory and his daughter Isabella, Teresa Leggett and husband David and their children Zoe, Oliver and Tessa, and Maria; Theresa Linn and husband David and their children David and Diana; George and his four children Kyle, Shane, Matthew and Julie; Kathleen Larrabee and husband David and their children Emily and Daniel; Daniel and his children Jeffrey and Kelly; and Nancy Siciliano and husband Salvatore and their children Alessandro, Olivia and Emma. Lastly, Mary R. Morris was predeceased by her loving daughter Deborah Rose Mariani and her surviving children Vincent and wife Taylor, and Anthony. Sadly, Mary was also predeceased by her first grandchild, John Paul Hondros.

Mary was the youngest of seven children of her immigrant parents Francis and Jennie Parento, who made passage from Italy to the United States in 1913. Their lives were enriched by their Philadelphia neighborhood, Nicetown, where they owned a corner grocery store. Mary learned early the rewards of working hard while saving to purchase her first home prior to her 20th birthday, just down the street from her parents. Her beautiful Italian looks caught the eye of debonair George C. Morris at the Safety Glass Company, where they both worked. It didn't take long for George's persuasive way to convince Mary they were meant to be for eternity. They married on January 20th, 1951 at St. Michael's Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. In less than a year their first child was born and the following six children were not far behind.

George and Mary moved their growing family from Nicetown to the Germantown section of Philadelphia in 1961. Life was busy in their row home, with Mary cooking for nine and perfecting the recipes that would be loved for generations. Tuesday was known as "Italian Night" on McKean Avenue; it became everyone's favorite, including various family and friends who would stop in. Fourth of July was not the same without her cream puffs, nor a birthday without her famous chocolate cake. The cake was made from memory and no two versions of the recipe that she shared with her children were the same.

Mary's legacy will be forever remembered by the love and total devotion she gave to her family. Her quiet strength and undying love lives on in her seven children, nineteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren, never to be equaled. If each of us were to capture a fraction of the love, devotion and undying faith she had, we would all be forever enriched.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Sunday, January 27, 2019 3:00-5:00 PM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA (610) 989-9600 and to her Funeral Mass Monday, January 28, 2019 at 10:30 AM St. Katharine of Siena Church, Lancaster and Aberdeen Avenues, Wayne, PA.

Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham, PA.