Noemi Morales

On January 19, 2023, Noemi Morales, age 51, passed peacefully, with family near her, after a courageous battle with early onset Alzheimer’s. She was born in Chicago, IL., moving with her family to Grand Rapids in 1979. She graduated from University of Michigan in 1998. She worked for Grand Rapids Parks and Recs, RRR program, GR Loop afterschool program, WKTV and GRTV production networks, and several nonprofit organizations; Arbor Circle, WIMCAT and Linc Up. She was very active in the Hispanic community, and was dedicated to the community she lived in, the area schools, and the families she worked with. She is preceded in death by her parents, Carmen I. and Eufemio Morales (Mauanabo/Yabucoa, Puerto Rico), sister, Evelyn Morales, and brother, Jose Lebron. She is survived by her son, Angelo Gagliardo, and her life partner, Michael Gagliardo, as well as siblings, Carlos (Marvonne) Morales, Carmen (Sue Clare) Morales, and Jose (Illiana) Morales. She had numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2023, at MKD Stegenga Funeral Home, 3181 S. Division Ave. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Joseph the Worker on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 11:00 am. Family will greet visitors at 10:00 a.m. at church, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an Alzheimer’s association, in hopes of finding a cure, or to Spectrum Health Hospice, for the compassionate care they showed Noemi.