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November 25, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4-8 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 at 10 AM.
Margaret I. Cornwell, age 94 of Paterson, died on Saturday, November 25, 2017. In her true fashion she had enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with her family on Thursday before her passing.
Margaret was raised in Garfield and Clifton and had lived in Paterson since the 1940’s. As a young girl, she met a handsome boy named Clark Cornwell, Jr. who worked at the local ice cream parlor in Clifton. They began dating but Clark was called off to fight in World War II and their romance was placed on hold until his return a few years later. They were eventually married on March 18, 1946 and they settled into their home in Paterson. Clark took over the family ice cream business and moved the operation to Paterson, calling it the “Guernsey Crest Ice Cream Company,” which is still in operation today! Margaret became the brains behind the operation, doing all the bookkeeping, accounting, and administrative work. She retired at the ripe age of 92 with her mind still as sharp as a tack. Margaret was very proud to see the business being run by her grandchildren, the fourth generation of Cornwells to do so. Margaret and Clark enjoyed a wonderful life together in which they had much fun. Dinning out at the area’s finest restaurants and celebrating their own version of ‘date night’ every Saturday were among their secrets to a long and happy marriage. Of course, it was no secret that Margaret enjoyed her Manhattan cocktails, which she treated herself to regularly as well. She and Clark enjoyed nearly forty-six years together before Clark passed away in 1992.
Margaret was a gourmet cook, and that’s an understatement. She was incredible in the kitchen and preparing large holiday meals was a passion of hers. Everything she cooked was beyond delicious. She was also very handy and her son recalls how she assembled a swimming pool in their back yard, installed all the Christmas lights during the holidays, and did most of the home repairs herself. She was a talented interior decorator and loved listening to Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra around the house. Years ago, Margaret had been in office with the Junior Women’s Club in Paterson, which was a really big deal back then, and she has been a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson.
In addition to losing her beloved husband Clark in 1992, Margaret also lost her dear son Kevin in 1997, when he was just forty-two years old. This was a devastating blow to Margaret’s enthusiastic perspective on life. Somehow, though, she found the strength to persevere and with the love of her family she pressed on. She and Kevin’s wife, Joy, have maintained a very close and loving relationship throughout the years, which has certainly helped with the healing. Margaret’s loss will also be a difficult one and her family will all miss her dearly.
Margaret is survived by her son; Clark L. Cornwell, III, Esq. of Paterson, her daughter-in-law; Joy Cornwell of Wayne, Joy’s sister; Nancy D’Acierno of Wayne, and her three grandchildren; Nicholas Cornwell of Wayne, Kevin Cornwell of Clifton, and Clark J. Cornwell of Hamburg.
Margaret would love to have flowers at her funeral, but for those who wish to make a donation in her memory, please consider St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 451 Van Houten Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
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, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4-8 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 at 10 AM.
November 25, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4-8 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 at 10 AM.
Margaret I. Cornwell, age 94 of Paterson, died on Saturday, November 25, 2017. In her true fashion she had enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with her family on Thursday before her passing.
Margaret was raised in Garfield and Clifton and had lived in Paterson since the 1940’s. As a young girl, she met a handsome boy named Clark Cornwell, Jr. who worked at the local ice cream parlor in Clifton. They began dating but Clark was called off to fight in World War II and their romance was placed on hold until his return a few years later. They were eventually married on March 18, 1946 and they settled into their home in Paterson. Clark took over the family ice cream business and moved the operation to Paterson, calling it the “Guernsey Crest Ice Cream Company,” which is still in operation today! Margaret became the brains behind the operation, doing all the bookkeeping, accounting, and administrative work. She retired at the ripe age of 92 with her mind still as sharp as a tack. Margaret was very proud to see the business being run by her grandchildren, the fourth generation of Cornwells to do so. Margaret and Clark enjoyed a wonderful life together in which they had much fun. Dinning out at the area’s finest restaurants and celebrating their own version of ‘date night’ every Saturday were among their secrets to a long and happy marriage. Of course, it was no secret that Margaret enjoyed her Manhattan cocktails, which she treated herself to regularly as well. She and Clark enjoyed nearly forty-six years together before Clark passed away in 1992.
Margaret was a gourmet cook, and that’s an understatement. She was incredible in the kitchen and preparing large holiday meals was a passion of hers. Everything she cooked was beyond delicious. She was also very handy and her son recalls how she assembled a swimming pool in their back yard, installed all the Christmas lights during the holidays, and did most of the home repairs herself. She was a talented interior decorator and loved listening to Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra around the house. Years ago, Margaret had been in office with the Junior Women’s Club in Paterson, which was a really big deal back then, and she has been a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson.
In addition to losing her beloved husband Clark in 1992, Margaret also lost her dear son Kevin in 1997, when he was just forty-two years old. This was a devastating blow to Margaret’s enthusiastic perspective on life. Somehow, though, she found the strength to persevere and with the love of her family she pressed on. She and Kevin’s wife, Joy, have maintained a very close and loving relationship throughout the years, which has certainly helped with the healing. Margaret’s loss will also be a difficult one and her family will all miss her dearly.
Margaret is survived by her son; Clark L. Cornwell, III, Esq. of Paterson, her daughter-in-law; Joy Cornwell of Wayne, Joy’s sister; Nancy D’Acierno of Wayne, and her three grandchildren; Nicholas Cornwell of Wayne, Kevin Cornwell of Clifton, and Clark J. Cornwell of Hamburg.
Margaret would love to have flowers at her funeral, but for those who wish to make a donation in her memory, please consider St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 451 Van Houten Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
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