SINSINAWA — Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Marie Cornelia Small died Jan. 24, 2011, at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Jan. 28, 2011, followed by burial of the cremains in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Marie Cornelia made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1946, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1949. She taught for 26 years; was a principal for eight years; and served as special education coordinator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Office of Education for one year. Sister Marie Cornelia devoted 19 years to health ministry as a home health care worker; pastoral care person; hospital chaplain; and assistant prioress at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, Iowa. She served in Illinois, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Marie Cornelia served as principal at Queen of Peace, Madison, 1961-1967, and taught at Wisconsin School for Girls, Oregon, 1969-1971. She ministered in pastoral care at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, 2000-2001.
Sister Marie Cornelia was born Feb. 18, 1927, in Chicago, the daughter of Cornelius and Theresa (Coughlin) Small. Her parents and two brothers, Neil Small and the Rev. Joseph Small, SJ, preceded her in death. She is survived by her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 64 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate to Us,” then “Honors and Memorials.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Marie Cornelia are available online at www.ustream.tv/user/Sinsinawa.