Mary Grimley Cornelius, known to all as "Mair", age 78, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2025.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt.

Mary was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on February 9, 1947, to Thomas F. and Ann P. Grimley.  She attended Holy Trinity High School in Westfield, NJ where she excelled in academics and serving others.  She graduated from Chestnut Hill College and received a graduate degree in Library Science from Catholic University.  While attending graduate school at Catholic University, she met the love of her life and future husband, Richard Cornelius.

They moved to Villanova, PA, where she worked as a law librarian at Villanova Law School for over 30 years.  They planted roots there, raised three children, and spent 53 beautiful years as husband and wife.

Mary had a joyous personality and positive spirit.  Always trying new recipes for hosting and showing up with baked goods in hand, she loved cooking and baking for family and friends.   She was a collector of sorts; she held on to almost everything.  The Jersey Shore and the beach held a special place in her heart, and she cherished the many memories created and shared there with her family.   Mary was generous with her time, quick to give a compliment, full of faith and commitment for the days ahead and a loyal friend to those lucky enough to know her.  Mary lived her Catholic faith each and every day.

Mary Cornelius will be dearly missed and never forgotten.  Her family takes great comfort knowing that she is reunited with her parents, Thomas F. and Ann P. Grimley, her younger brother, Thomas F. Grimley III, her father-in-law, Carl H. Cornelius, mother-in-law, Florence Cornelius, and dear friends who have gone before her.  She leaves this legacy with her husband, Richard Cornelius; sister-in-law, Carol Grimley; three children, Matthew (Clarita) Cornelius, Elizabeth (Eric) Bingaman and John (Sarah) Cornelius and 9 grandchildren: Ryann and Matthew Cornelius; Chelsea Banteah; Shane and Luke Bingaman; Calvin, Naomi, Rowan and Declan Cornelius, and 1 great granddaughter, Robyn Banteah.

If you would like to honor her memory, please consider supporting research focused on finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease or lending company and compassion to those who are experiencing it.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Visitation on Monday, April 14th, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. Thomas of Villanova Church (on University Campus), 800 E. Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 followed by a Catholic Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions in memory of Mary to The Zuni Enrichment Project at 13 Chimoni Drive, Zuni, New Mexico 87327.