Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory


Jeanette Mary Cornelsen, age 82 of Gambrills, MD, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2022. She was born on January 13, 1939 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to the late Helen Martin Thompson and James Matthew Thompson. 

Jeanette always had a powerful smile and a twinkle in her eye when she shared a quick-witted pun with her family and friends. As a child, she learned to drive going between Toronto and Meaford on the Georgian Bay. Meaford was the location of the family camp run by her sister, Helen and husband, Ray Crews and later the family cottage where she developed many lifelong friendships.

She attended York Memorial High School, where she excelled in athletics, winning the bronze medallion for top overall performance. She pursued her passion of art at the Central Technical School in Toronto. Many of Jeanette’s sketches adorn the family home. After graduating, she was hired as a commercial artist creating ads for the Bell Telephone of Canada.

Out with the girls one night, Jeanette looked across a crowded room in the Toronto German Club and saw a very handsome man. Drawn to her, the man eventually made his way to her table, and asked her to dance. For Jeanette and Fred, it was love at first dance, and the beginning of a passionate and loving relationship that would guide them through more than 60 years of marriage.

In 1965, Jeanette and Fred, moved the family to Maryland. She was an engaging mom leading the neighborhood children in creative thinking, painting and plays. Well known for finding joy in nature and entertainment, and hosting the best parties. For her children’s birthday parties, Jeanette would make creative hats, interesting games, and fun crafts for the kids. She always delighted guests with the original party favors she made. When the family moved to Kettering, Jeanette led her daughter’s Brownie Girl Scout Troop, where she shared her love of art with them.

Jeanette was passionate about bowling. She would bowl weekly with the Ladies Kettering Bowling Club, which she co-founded in 1969 with her friend, Marge Horengic. In addition to her passion for bowling and art, she loved gardening, sailing, golfing, and traveling. She could often be found on the golf course playing a round with Fred and their friends. On sailing trips with her family, she would be on a mission to find the best food in the town and to hunt for fossilized shark’s teeth on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. To add to her many adventures on the water, Jeanette enjoyed camping and relished in her fire building skills. Jeanette was instrumental in the design, construction, management, and of course furnishing, of their two family homes in Maryland.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, Manfred A. Cornelsen, and is delightfully dancing away with him in heaven. She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Cornelsen; her son, Robert Cornelsen; her grandchildren, Suzanne Pecoraro and Kristen Cornelsen; her elder sister, Helen Crews; her sister-in-law, Edith Cornelsen Grund and her many nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her brother, James Matthew Thompson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Washington Adventist Hospital. We are passionate about helping others and giving back to the community. We are impressed with the high caliber of staff and facilities of the Washington Adventist Hospital and think highly of their efforts to heal in a caring way. Donations may be made in memory of Jeanette Cornelsen by visiting the web site: <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fred-cornelsen">https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fred-cornelsen</a>

  
Family and Friends will be received for a service on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 1pm at Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, MD 21409. All are encouraged to post memories and thoughts on our Memories page.

Jeanette Mary Cornelsen

Jeanette Mary Cornelsen

Send Flowers