office manager debra villegas met her on her first day of work.t did melissa bring to the party? >> she was smart and capable. you know, you -- she was everything you would want in -- in an -- an associate attorney. >> reporter: she was also one of the nicest people debra says she ever met. the two became fast friends. >> we were like sisters. she knew all my faults and flaws and -- and she loved me anyways. >> reporter: debra and melissa saw the firm grow tenfold in just a few years. their gregarious boss, scott, was the front man. he hobnobbed with a who's who of big-deal names in sports, politics and business. even future presidents. fund-raisers? well, scott was your man. >> once your name gets out there you truly cannot imagine how many people knock on your door. >> reporter: and the door scott knocked on was melissa's. >> melissa was the one that he knew she could handle it. he knew that she wouldn't let anything fall through the cracks. >> reporter: melissa specialized in employment law, but volunteered her time for battered women and victi

we'll see what we can do -- >> reporter: inside are maria's children, including her son, freddie villegas and daughter blanca gonzalez. >> sorry for your loss. >> reporter: they say they were told to hurry to the hospital, but when they arrived, their mother was gone. >> it's so hard -- >> reporter: sister terri does a prayer over maria with her children. >> we ask you to celebrate the life of maria, celebrate her generosity -- >> reporter: together they share a moment of grief and grace as they say good-bye to a mother and a grandmother. this is the scene playing out in hospitals across america as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spiral out of control. but even surrounded by sickness, fear, and even death, sister terri is still working to comfort those in need. >> we give you your servant genevieve, lord this woman of faith, comes to you just -- in so need -- >> reporter: it's people like genevieve vasquez who prayed for the breath of life as the virus ravaged her lungs. >> we pray this in jesus' name, amen. >> reporter: sister terri told us within the first 15 minutes of her arriva