Obituary of Cornelia W Granger

Cornelia Washburn Granger, beloved mother, passed peacefully away at her home on September 19th. Though victorious in many ways, she lost the battle with cancer after putting up an amazing fight. She was 87.

Cornelia was born and raised in Manhattan. She graduated from Convent of the Sacred Heart and attended college at Manhattanville until marrying Edward Granger and moving to Levittown, Long Island. After the birth of their first son they settled in Oakland, New Jersey where Cornelia has remained for 60 years.

Cornelia was above all a wonderful homemaker raising her four children in the Catholic faith, putting family first, teaching altruism by example. She will be remembered with great affection for her tenacity, courage, deep faith, sacrifice, integrity, infectious joy, humor and the best pies ever.

It was with great pride that Cornelia was eventually able to finish her bachelor’s degree at Ramapo College and to accomplish her dream to complete a master’s degree at Montclair State when she was 56 years old. 

One of the biggest joys of Cornelia’s life was her role as ‘Grandmere’ (Grandmother). Ten grandkids arrived in rapid succession and kept her very busy. Knitting and crocheting, babysitting and homeschooling, baking and sewing were just some of the passions she shared with them. Because of her they have cherished memories of annual apple picking, boisterous holiday gatherings and unforgettable family retreats.

Cornelia Granger was preceded in death by her husband in 2006 and by her sisters Elizabeth Deihle, Joan Coyle, Nancy van Vorhees and her brother A. Lawrence Washburn.  She is survived by her sister Camilla Donnelly, her four children: Mark (Michelle), Mary (Jeff) Clauss, Martha (Rik Walter), Matthew (Cindy) and ten grandchildren: Frederick, Timothy, Cullen, Julia, Emma, Charlie, Sophie, Rowan, Nina and Gavin.

A visitation will beheld at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 4pm to 8pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 11am at St. Anthony's of Padua Church, 103 Gould Ave, Caldwell, NJ 07006 with a burial to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ.