“One time she sent me a card that just said ‘thank you for smiling when you come into the dining hall,’” Murphy said.

Steven R. Sandblom, general manager of Cabot and Pforzheimer House dining halls, accompanied Quinlan to visit Guerrero in the hospital earlier this week.

“When we visited her the other day, she was so serene but she had such a bright smile on her face,” he said. “She said she genuinely wanted to thank all of Harvard for everything that they had done for her.”

“It was so touching because she had that huge smile on her face,” he added. “I’ll remember that forever.”

HUDS, in collaboration with Harvard Real Estate, found an apartment for Guerrero and her family late last year.

“She had a resolve to live as well as she could as long as she could and be there for her daughters as much as she could,” Quinlan said.

Guerrero, also known for her strong faith, maintained her resolve until the end.

“She used to say that the people in her life were angels,” said Murphy. “She was really an angel to us. She never cursed God or said ‘why did this happen to me?’”

The wake will be held Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Saint Mary’s Church, located at 134 Norfolk St. in Cambridge. The funeral will be held at the same location at 9 a.m. on Monday.