Josephine Ann "Jo" (McCloskey) Cornelius

Josephine Ann “Jo” Cornelius, 89, of Altoona, died Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at her son and daughter-in-law’s home in Vandergrift, Pa.

She was born in Altoona on September 8, 1931, the daughter of William Frederick and Mabel Gertrude (Fluke) McCloskey. On July 7, 1956, she married Hayden Cornelius Jr. in Hernando, Miss., and he preceded her in death on August 8, 2014.

Surviving are her son, William H. Cornelius and his wife, Lori A. Snow, of Vandergrift; three grandchildren: Kristy E. DeStefano and husband, David, of Attleboro, Mass., Darin M. “D.J.” Snow Jr. and fiancée, Kayla, of Vandergrift and Michael T. Snow of Vandergrift; a great-grandson, Owen; numerous nieces and nephews; and her granddog, Geddy.

She was preceded in death by two sisters: Jean Steel and Helen Myers.

Mrs. Cornelius was a member of First Church of Christ, Altoona. She was a 1949 graduate of Altoona High School. She and her father were the owners of McCloskey’s Corner Store.

Jo enjoyed crafts, traveling with Hayden (hitting all the states but Texas), going on cruises, swimming and baking.

She was the past-president and auditor of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Juniata Civics Association and of the Noble Elementary School PTA and its functions.

Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Myers-Somers Funeral Home, Inc., 501 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, where a funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with Pastor John Collins officiating. Interment will be made at Alto-Reste Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations please be made to Richland EMS, P.O. Box 925, Gibsonia, PA 15044.

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