Kathleen "Kathy" Salerno Morrow

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Kathleen “Kathy” Salerno Morrow, 77, of Brownsville, Texas passed away Tuesday, the 15th of October 2024, at her home. Kathy was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Italian immigrant parents, Salvatore “Sam” Salerno and Mary Mitra Salerno. It was there that she met the love of her life, Harold “Hal” Morrow, a young farm boy from Madison, Iowa. They were engaged two weeks later and married a year to the day they met. Kathy and Hal were married for 37 years until his death in 2003. Hal’s career brought them to Brownsville, Texas in 1974 and she had happily been there ever since. 

Kathy was extremely faith based and always very active in church over the years, having been a member of the Altar Guild at both the Church of the Advent, Episcopal in Brownsville, and St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church in Port Isabel. Her faith in God gave her the strength to endure the hardships of life, especially when Hal passed away; she emphasized the Lord’s tenants of kindness, love, and care and always strove to help others where she could. 

Kathy was the matriarch of a large and loving family and was very proud of her Sicilian heritage, imparting it to her children through her words, actions, cooking and baking. Everything she did was with love and when that dough roller came out, you just knew something amazing was about to happen in the kitchen! Whether it was to press her famous ravioli or make homemade cannoli, family and friends alike were always guaranteed to enjoy.

Cooking and baking were a couple of the ways that she impacted so many lives, but there were so many other ways as well. She had a passion for cross-stitching and made beautiful ornaments, pillows and blankets that have been shared with family and friends alike. The memory of her sitting in any of her family’s homes with needle in one hand, material in the other and glasses down on her nose will never fade. 

Kathy lived a very active, adventurous and fun life with her family and friends as well. On any given weekend you could find her in San Antonio or El Paso visiting her children and grandchildren, in St. Louis with her sisters and extended family, volunteering somewhere or off creating lasting memories with her friends. She loved to travel and saw more than 20 countries in her lifetime. She enjoyed the view of the world from a cruise ship especially, from Europe to Alaska, the Caribbean and her most recent cruise with dear friends to Nova Scotia and New England states. And of course, there was an ‘occasional’ gambling trip as well! 

Kathy went back to school after her children were born and eventually graduated with a Master’s degree in Nursing in 1986, as well as receiving her Nurse Practitioner certification a few years later. Kathy served as the Director of Women’s Services at Valley Baptist Hospital until 1998, the Head Nurse in private practice with Dr. Rose Gowen from 1998 to 2008, and the Director of Nurse’s in Women’s Health at Su Clinica from 2008 to 2022, also serving as Interim Director of Nursing. She retired after 36 years of service in 2022, but she refused to sit still even in her golden years. Kathy was a friend and mentor to many young medical professionals throughout her career and her efforts will be felt within the medical community for generations to come.

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Hal; her parents, Sam and Mary; and her sisters, Mary Younger (Clyde) and Izzy Rhodes (Mike). 

She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Morrow Hawley (Tom); her sons, Craig Morrow (Misti) and Sam Morrow (Cassie); sister, Rose Sheeran (Bill); brother-in-law, Dick Morrow (Carol); sister-in-law, Ann Morrow; grandchildren Taylor, Nicholas, Zach, Kara, Cassie, Collin, Sloane, Connor, and Ainslee; and great-grandchild, Lucas. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 9th of November 2024, St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church, 1022 N. Yturria Street, Port Isabel.

The family kindly asks that in lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, those who wish to contribute in her memory, please donate in Kathy’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, or to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley 

Memories of Kathy may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.