Cornelia J. Tolish

On December 31, 2024, Cornelia (Connie) Tolish, nee Segers, of Homewood, Illinois formerly of Dolton and Roseland, passed peacefully at home in her own bed. She was 98 years old. Her loving husband of 36 years Ted, passed 33 years ago. She leaves behind her five children: Elizabeth (Randy) Miles, Ted (Cheryl), Mike (Donna), Gwen Rivet, and Elaine (Dave) Devine. She was the proud Grandma of 15: Angela (Mike) Dugan, Jonathan (Melissa) Miles, Caroline (Thomas) Gilgen, Alex Tolish, Doug Tolish, Madeline (Mike) Spear, Rachel (Shaun) Johnson, Elise (Brian) Tolish/Stephenson, Gail (Jay) Ryden, Mitch Rivet, Haley Rivet, Theresa (Kurtis) Cooper, Margaret (Dan) O'Grady, Mary Devine, and Tom Devine. She was great-grandma to Jack, Joe, James, Rhett, Byron, Oliver, Ella, Brennan, Andrea, Hugh, Gabe, Mara, Elliot, and Ava. Cornelia also cherished her extended family including the Vandevyveres, Kehoes, Segers, Miles, Seiferts, Flemmings, Rivets, and Devines.

Born to Dutch immigrants in 1926, Cornelia helped work her father's tomato farm in what is now Midlothian. After losing the farm in the Depression, the family was forced to move to Holland where they lived for a year. Homesick for the U.S., the family returned and resided in Roseland. Cornelia was athletic and enjoyed golf, bowling, and archery. She graduated from St. Willibrord High School and over the years, worked for Gately's People Store on Michigan Avenue the IC railroad and Dolton/South Holland Banks.

Cornelia and Ted, also of Roseland, were married at St. Willibrord church in 1954 and started their family in West Pullman. In 1960 they moved to Princeton Ave in Dolton where she became actively involved in her parish and her children's school, Queen of Apostles. Cornelia could always be counted on to help out with church cleaning, money counting after mass, and at the annual Queen's Fest parish fundraiser where she was an active participant in the ladies' dance group who performed at the Fest. She was also a Eucharistic Minister. Summers included renting a place for a week somewhere along the Lake Michigan coast with extended family and later spending time at her cottage in Grand Beach.

In 1992 Cornelia moved to Homewood and joined Infant of Jesus Parish (now St. Veronica), where she continued volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister, money counter and brought communion to the homebound until she was nearly 90 years old. She enjoyed going to coffee with friends after daily Mass. Cornelia lived in her apartment for over 30 years where she enjoyed special friendships with her wonderful neighbors.

She enjoyed socializing with her friends from Dolton and Riverdale, and former work colleagues well into her 80s. After retirement, she traveled often, going to Hawaii, Ireland, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and other states, and she treated her grandchildren to special trips. She also had fun going on senior gambling trips where she often came home with more money than she started and never came home with less.

She adored her grandchildren and supported their many activities. Cornelia was all-in, whether it was a baseball game, a volleyball match, a play, or a concert. She was such a fixture at these events that many of her grandchildren's parents got to know (and love) her.

Cornelia was usually the first person to arrive and the last to leave family gatherings. She pitched in wherever she could, bringing her famous seven-layer-salad to parties and leading the cleaning brigade at the end. She was a good cook and baker, generously sharing her delicious breads and pastries, including everyone's favorite Christmas treat, Dutch Letters. She also enjoyed a gimlet every once in a while.

In addition to her husband, Ted, Cornelia was preceded in death by her parents, Abraham and Cornelia Segers, sisters Elizabeth Kehoe and Hermina Vandevyvere, and her brother, John Segers. She is survived by her caregivers, neighbor friends, and a large group of devoted family who will miss her dearly.

A visitation will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home, 18230 Dixie Highway, Homewood, IL. Prayers Friday January 10, 2025 at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home at 9:45 a.m. to St Veronica Catholic Church (formerly Infant Jesus of Prague) for a funeral mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Steger IL. For further information, please contact Tews-Ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300.