A Youngstown nun was celebrated Easter Sunday as she turned 103 years old.

Friends and fellow nuns at the Ursuline Mother House in Canfield sang "Happy Birthday" to Sister Jerome Corcoran at the Ursuline Mother House in Canfield.

Sister Jerome became a nun at age 18, her passion for teaching and helping others by showing God's love, helping change generations.

Jerome started teaching, and in 1976, she founded the Mill Creek Children's Center.

"I was there for 36 years, and the preschool was for children of working poor parents. They could not have afforded to pay for daycare," said Sister Jerome.

In1998, she founded the Youngstown Community School.

Then when she was 96, with support of the Ursuline Sisters, she founded Sister Jerome's kids to help inner city kids remain in college and graduate. 

Friends said her legacy of love is evident wherever she goes, including Walmart.

"We couldn't go past a cash register in the Walmart without people getting out of line to see her. Even the cashier stopped and said, 'Please wait, there is Sister Jerome; I have to go hug and kiss her.' It was the same on the way in and out of the store," said friend Joan Yanchick.

"Sister Jerome, as usual, wanted nothing for her birthday but will accept Dollar store gift cards, so she can help people who are struggling to make ends meet in Youngstown. I've known a lot of people in many walks of life, but I've never met anyone who touched lives like sister Jerome," said another friend, Patty Marsico.

"Everywhere we go someone stops to say hi you helped me, or you helped my mom, or cousin," said Sister Jerome.

Jerome plans on helping others when she is no longer with us.

"There are such tremendous breakthroughs in research. The medical place I chose is Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. They are conducting several Alzheimer's research studies. They need normal brains and brains of people who develop Alzheimer's. The disease wrecks families, it wrecks individuals, it runs up bills, and it's so miserable," said Sister Jerome. "I do want my brain to do good when I leave so I am donating my brain. Ask yourself, which would you rather do? You would want your brain to do good right?"

Sister Jerome retired at age 99, but she is still doing God's work at age 103. 

She was leaving to take gift cards to people in Youngstown who need help to make ends meet.

Friends said Jerome's life is about serving others and showing God's love.