SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- She was a primary founder of St. Joseph's Hospital 141 years ago, and her legacy will always be remembered. A new sculpture of Blessed Mother Marianne Cope was unveiled Thursday morning in the main lobby of the hospital.

Cope is known as one of the most spiritually blessed saviors among Central New York Christians. The Catholic nun is remembered for helping leprosy victims in Hawaii in the 1800s after living in Utica and Syracuse.

The cast bronze sculpture, created by local artist Ron DeRutte is well lit with several colors.

"Light in sculpture is very important, because how light falls across objects really dictates how they're supposed to look," DeRutte said.

"This woman was a giant. And, we are so grateful to her and we at St. Joseph's, the whole network, have great devotion to Mother Marianne," said Sister Rose Ann Renna.

Mother Marianne was beatified at the Vatican in 2005. She needs one more miracle attributed to her to achieve sainthood.