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October 15, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 7-8 PM. A Funeral Service will take place and begin immediately following the visitation time at 8:00 PM.
Cornelia Rose Van Norde (nee Mc Kinnon), age 91, of Wayne, died peacefully at her daughter’s home on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
Cora was born in Bedminster, and raised in Rutherford. A graduate of Butler High School, as a very young woman, she married Rune Hultman, her “movie star husband” and “link to Hollywood.” Rune was in several movies made during World War II and he was even the star of one of them called Winged Victory.
Following her marriage to Rune, Cora attended business school in New York City, getting up each morning at 5:00 AM to catch the bus and then the train into Manhattan so she could make it to class on time. Perseverance and hard work paid off as, following graduation, she was offered a position in personnel with Curtis Wright Corporation. One of the duties she was charged with was interviewing prospective engineering candidates. This was quite unprecedented for a woman working in the early 1940’s but Cora was never one to shy away from a challenge.
One of the individuals Cora interviewed was a young aspiring engineer named Peter Van Norde. Although she wasn't certain he was the best prospect for the job, he got the job anyway. This was great for Peter in more ways than one, for, while it obviously gave him gainful employment in his chosen field, it also gave him the opportunity to see Cora as he took quite a liking to her. Peter asked the now-single Cora out several times and she eventually accepted. Long story short, they fell in love and were married on January 18, 1948. Following the wedding, they honeymooned in very cold Montreal, Canada – it was 30 degrees below zero!
In 1953, Cora gave birth to her beautiful baby girl which she and Peter named Linda. Soon after, in 1956, they settled into their brand new home which they had built in Wayne and where Cora remained right up to the present time. Cora always had a flair for style and one way she gave expression to that was through coordinating the color of the car she was presently driving with the color of her house. Consequently throughout the years, her house was repainted white, then gray, then tan, then mustard, always to match her car.
Peter eventually pursued a career in law, opening up his practice in Wayne. Following some part-time work in his law firm, Cora eventually settled into full-time homemaking, concentrating on raising Linda while pursuing other life passions. One of those passions was a great love for animals, especially the down and out ones, so Cora consequently volunteered countless hours actively seeking to rescue and give animals homes through numerous local shelters. She was also passionate about her own dogs - two Borzois (Russian Wolfhounds) she named Toshka and Tonka, and two French Bulldogs named Suzie and Smokey. She showed them at numerous dog competitions and, while Tonka ribboned once, Suzie and Smokey ribboned numerous times. Ribbons or not though, she loved all four of those dogs immensely!
When Cora was a young girl in eighth grade, she entered into an essay contest. The prize for the best essay was a trip to Ogunquit, ME. Cora was the victor and, in this case, to the victor went the trip! It was a trip that set the course for another one of Cora’s passions – spending countless summers in Ogunquit! In 1964, she and Peter purchased a cottage in Ogunquit, two-hundred yards from the ocean and Cora spent summers there ever since. Her yard was gracefully adorned with the beautiful flowers she grew herself, and the property was bordered by a very impressive ten-foot tall hedge that, every summer, took a whole week to trim. It was a great place where many family memories were made and, like northern NJ, there were plenty of unfortunate animals that needed shelter, rescue and adoption, so Cora volunteered in shelters in Maine too.
In the early 1980’s Cora took on a new challenge, getting her real estate license and serving as a realtor with Caldwell Banker in Wayne. It was a job that took great people skills and when it came to that, few were better than Cora at dealing with people. Known for her great story-telling skills (and everyone loves a good story), it was said that Cora could captivate a total stranger for hours with the stories she could tell. A true American and patriot, who only ever dated serviceman, many of her stories were about World War II and the impact that war had on our country. She loved politics and, until about a month ago, she kept CNN going on the television almost all day long to keep up with current political events.
Cora had great love and adoration for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Nanny”, as she was known to all of them, was very generous. If they asked her for one of something, she would give them eight! She would proudly hand them the gift, although often saying, “sorry, I didn’t have time to wrap it.” It’s not that she didn’t have wrapping paper; she had a whole room full! It’s just that, when you were as active as Nanny, who had time to wrap? And, wasn’t giving the gift more important that what it was or the package it came in? In honor of Nanny, her family will be wrapping gifts this Christmas with all that vintage wrapping paper that she bought but never actually got around to using. What a fitting memorial!
Cora will always be remembered and admired for her perseverance, strength and principled approach to life. She will also be remembered for her patriotic spirit, great story-telling abilities and love for clocks which, ironically, she never set. Maybe she was trying to teach us all a lesson about the passing of time.
Cora is survived by her daughter Linda Benoski of Highland Lakes, three grandchildren: Corinne Benoski of Laguna, CA, Peter Benoski of Highland Lakes, and Alyssia Benoski of Ogunquit, ME; two great-grandchildren: Brielle Benoski and Jayden Benoski-Bowens; and five nieces and one nephew, all of Florida.
She was predeceased by her husband Peter in 2009 and her son-in-law Fred Benoski in 2008.
In Cora’s final days, a wonderful group of loving, selfless angels came to her aid. Some of those dear folks are the friends at Compassionate Care Hospice including, Noreen, Barbara, Robin, Christine, Abbey, and Pastor Danny. The others are the wonderful girls that cared for Nanny like she was their own grandma. Those girls are Chris M., Amanda, Jenny and Becky. Greatest appreciation is extended to all ten of you for going above and beyond and enriching the end of Nanny’s life!
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Cornelia’s name are asked to consider a donation to their local animal shelter or humane society.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 7-8 PM. A Funeral Service will take place and begin immediately following the visitation time at 8:00 PM.
October 15, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 7-8 PM. A Funeral Service will take place and begin immediately following the visitation time at 8:00 PM.
Cornelia Rose Van Norde (nee Mc Kinnon), age 91, of Wayne, died peacefully at her daughter’s home on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
Cora was born in Bedminster, and raised in Rutherford. A graduate of Butler High School, as a very young woman, she married Rune Hultman, her “movie star husband” and “link to Hollywood.” Rune was in several movies made during World War II and he was even the star of one of them called Winged Victory.
Following her marriage to Rune, Cora attended business school in New York City, getting up each morning at 5:00 AM to catch the bus and then the train into Manhattan so she could make it to class on time. Perseverance and hard work paid off as, following graduation, she was offered a position in personnel with Curtis Wright Corporation. One of the duties she was charged with was interviewing prospective engineering candidates. This was quite unprecedented for a woman working in the early 1940’s but Cora was never one to shy away from a challenge.
One of the individuals Cora interviewed was a young aspiring engineer named Peter Van Norde. Although she wasn't certain he was the best prospect for the job, he got the job anyway. This was great for Peter in more ways than one, for, while it obviously gave him gainful employment in his chosen field, it also gave him the opportunity to see Cora as he took quite a liking to her. Peter asked the now-single Cora out several times and she eventually accepted. Long story short, they fell in love and were married on January 18, 1948. Following the wedding, they honeymooned in very cold Montreal, Canada – it was 30 degrees below zero!
In 1953, Cora gave birth to her beautiful baby girl which she and Peter named Linda. Soon after, in 1956, they settled into their brand new home which they had built in Wayne and where Cora remained right up to the present time. Cora always had a flair for style and one way she gave expression to that was through coordinating the color of the car she was presently driving with the color of her house. Consequently throughout the years, her house was repainted white, then gray, then tan, then mustard, always to match her car.
Peter eventually pursued a career in law, opening up his practice in Wayne. Following some part-time work in his law firm, Cora eventually settled into full-time homemaking, concentrating on raising Linda while pursuing other life passions. One of those passions was a great love for animals, especially the down and out ones, so Cora consequently volunteered countless hours actively seeking to rescue and give animals homes through numerous local shelters. She was also passionate about her own dogs - two Borzois (Russian Wolfhounds) she named Toshka and Tonka, and two French Bulldogs named Suzie and Smokey. She showed them at numerous dog competitions and, while Tonka ribboned once, Suzie and Smokey ribboned numerous times. Ribbons or not though, she loved all four of those dogs immensely!
When Cora was a young girl in eighth grade, she entered into an essay contest. The prize for the best essay was a trip to Ogunquit, ME. Cora was the victor and, in this case, to the victor went the trip! It was a trip that set the course for another one of Cora’s passions – spending countless summers in Ogunquit! In 1964, she and Peter purchased a cottage in Ogunquit, two-hundred yards from the ocean and Cora spent summers there ever since. Her yard was gracefully adorned with the beautiful flowers she grew herself, and the property was bordered by a very impressive ten-foot tall hedge that, every summer, took a whole week to trim. It was a great place where many family memories were made and, like northern NJ, there were plenty of unfortunate animals that needed shelter, rescue and adoption, so Cora volunteered in shelters in Maine too.
In the early 1980’s Cora took on a new challenge, getting her real estate license and serving as a realtor with Caldwell Banker in Wayne. It was a job that took great people skills and when it came to that, few were better than Cora at dealing with people. Known for her great story-telling skills (and everyone loves a good story), it was said that Cora could captivate a total stranger for hours with the stories she could tell. A true American and patriot, who only ever dated serviceman, many of her stories were about World War II and the impact that war had on our country. She loved politics and, until about a month ago, she kept CNN going on the television almost all day long to keep up with current political events.
Cora had great love and adoration for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Nanny”, as she was known to all of them, was very generous. If they asked her for one of something, she would give them eight! She would proudly hand them the gift, although often saying, “sorry, I didn’t have time to wrap it.” It’s not that she didn’t have wrapping paper; she had a whole room full! It’s just that, when you were as active as Nanny, who had time to wrap? And, wasn’t giving the gift more important that what it was or the package it came in? In honor of Nanny, her family will be wrapping gifts this Christmas with all that vintage wrapping paper that she bought but never actually got around to using. What a fitting memorial!
Cora will always be remembered and admired for her perseverance, strength and principled approach to life. She will also be remembered for her patriotic spirit, great story-telling abilities and love for clocks which, ironically, she never set. Maybe she was trying to teach us all a lesson about the passing of time.
Cora is survived by her daughter Linda Benoski of Highland Lakes, three grandchildren: Corinne Benoski of Laguna, CA, Peter Benoski of Highland Lakes, and Alyssia Benoski of Ogunquit, ME; two great-grandchildren: Brielle Benoski and Jayden Benoski-Bowens; and five nieces and one nephew, all of Florida.
She was predeceased by her husband Peter in 2009 and her son-in-law Fred Benoski in 2008.
In Cora’s final days, a wonderful group of loving, selfless angels came to her aid. Some of those dear folks are the friends at Compassionate Care Hospice including, Noreen, Barbara, Robin, Christine, Abbey, and Pastor Danny. The others are the wonderful girls that cared for Nanny like she was their own grandma. Those girls are Chris M., Amanda, Jenny and Becky. Greatest appreciation is extended to all ten of you for going above and beyond and enriching the end of Nanny’s life!
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Cornelia’s name are asked to consider a donation to their local animal shelter or humane society.
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