Maria Morris of Cokato passed away at the Meeker County Memorial Hospital on August 8, 2015.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Thursday, August 13 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 4-8 PM Wednesday, August 12 at the Church
Prayer Service: 7 PM Wednesday.
Interment Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
Memorial are preferred to the Cokato food shelf, and the Maria Battaglia 1st generation education scholarship (a yearly scholarship awarded to a student who has non English speaking parents and is planning on going to a college or tech school)
Maria Morris was born in Naples, Italy on December 12, 1926 to Giovanni and Margherita (Grasso) Battaglia. She attended school only through the second grade, when she began to work outside the home to help support the family. At the age of 19, while working in a GI laundry she met George Wandersee an American soldier stationed in Naples. On October 14, 1945 Maria and George were married through an interpreter, as neither spoke the same language. Maria often shared that they needed an interpreter on their honeymoon. While George remained in Italy to complete his tour of duty an extremely frightened Maria joined other “war brides” and departed by ship to America. Her destination was to a farm in Waverly, Minnesota, where she would live with her new in-laws. Some months later, George returned to Minnesota and they made their home in Howard Lake. Three daughters and one son were born to this union. Maria was widowed on November 19, 1953.
In May of 1954, Maria and her children journeyed to visit her family in Naples. After a three month reunion, Maria bravely returned to America with her children to become a US citizen and to offer her children the opportunity of good health and education.
On October 1, 1955 Maria married Russell Morris in Cokato where they made their home. Five sons were born to this union. Russell passed away on November 11, 1991.
Maria enjoyed her family and was extremely proud of her three daughters and six sons. As the years passed, she became “Nonna” to 21 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Mamma Mia! How she loved them all!
In Maria’s “free time”, she enjoyed bowling, growing houseplants and winning at bingo. Maria appreciated good food, and good eaters, but never claimed to be a good cook. However, family and friends enjoyed her cooking, especially her lasagna, potato sausage, and glorified rice. Maria used her skills at the Cokato Norseman and DQ where she was a cook for many years.
Maria was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 50 years. She was always grateful for many wonderful friends who helped her to learn to speak and read English and to obtain her American citizenship. She had a heart of gratitude for those who prayed with and for her.
Maria is remembered by many for her fun sense of humor and quick wit that sweetened her life with laughter and friendship. But, mostly for us, as her family, her lasting legacy will be her gift of love for us and how her sacrificial love impacted each one of us for the future. Her motive was to give us a better life. But the hidden treasure we received, as we witnessed to her about Jesus, was that we, too, grew closer and closer to our lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, our mother loved us, but most importantly she loved Jesus.
Her life left a lasting impression on so many and none of it was to chance. She meant so much to us, but all we have to do is look at the cross to see how much she meant to Jesus.
On Saturday, August 8, at Meeker County Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, He brought her home. She had reached the age of 88 years, 8 months and 8 days. She always loved Crazy Eights! Thanks be to God for our wonderful mother.
Maria was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and three sisters, her husbands George Wandersee and Russell Morris, her son-in-law Stephen Baldwin and her grand daughter Laramie.
Survivors include Maria’s children: Rose Baldwin of Barnes, Wisconsin, Anna Marie (Joe) Harmala of Cokato, Carlo (Theresa) Wandersee of Elk River, Rita (Greg) Hayek of Minnetonka, Tom (Kim) Morris of Cokato, Jon Morris of Moundsview, Bob (Mary Kay) Morris of Cokato, Timmi (Marianela) Morris of Bloomington, and Tony Morris of Cokato. Her sister Yolanda Castaldo of Naples, Italy. 21 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. Many nieces nephews other relatives and friends.