Jean Darling Raht Cornille, 99, entered into the gates of heaven on August 16, 2012 in Hallandale, Florida. Jean Darling Raht Cornille was born June 6, 1913, to John T. Raht and Lula E. Wright Raht in Vernon, Wisconsin. Her life began on a farm in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In her late teens she moved to Milwaukee where she became a registered nurse. As the Assistant Director of Nurses at Milwaukee County Hospital for many years, Jean set the standard for compassion and service for her student nurses. Jean met her late husband, Alfred J. Cornille, MD at Milwaukee County Hospital where he came to do his surgical residency. In 1951, they moved their family to Fort Pierce, Florida. Jean continued her legacy to the world by instilling these same values of compassion and service into her five children. In addition to the many demands of a large family and serving as her husband’s office nurse, Jean took a leadership role in the 1960s by assisting in the establishment of the nursing program at Indian River Junior College and providing scholarships for the students.
In 2007, Jean moved to Hallandale, Florida, to be with her daughter Judith. Jean worked as a Senior Volunteer for The Florida Lions Eye Bank, throughout her 90s, fully engaged in life and always stepping forward at “her” eye bank, to actualize her lifelong motto: “Many hands make light work”.
Mother Teresa once said: “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expressions of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, and kindness in your smile.” Jean was truly the living expression of God’s kindness. Jean was a member of St. Marks Catholic Church in Fort Pierce, Florida, and St. Matthew’s in Hallandale Florida. Mrs. Cornille is survived by her five children Thomas A. Elora Cornille of Ocala, FL ; Judith A. Cornille of Hallandale, FL; Barbara J.Thomas Hoeffner of Fort Pierce, FL ; Paul A. Sandra Cornille of Tampa, FL ; John A.Mary Cornille of St. Louis, MO. Her grandchildren include Jonathan Cornille, Elizabeth Cornille Smith, Kevin Hoeffner, Jennie Hoeffner Capezza, Alisa Cornille Wand, and Rebecca Cornille Driver. Her great grandchildren include Andrew Cornille, Abigail Cornille, Nicholas Cornille, Sydney Smith, David Smith, Brianna Hoeffner, Jacob Hoeffner, Lauren Hoeffner, Abbey Capezza, Kate Capezza, Luke Capezza, and Autumn Jean Wand. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two siblings; Chris Raht and John Raht, and grandson, David Douglas Cornille. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, August 20, 1:30 PM, at St. Mark’s Church 1924 Zephyr Avenue Fort Pierce, FLA 34982, followed by interment at White City Cemetery. Memorial contributions, if you prefer in lieu of flowers, can be made to the Florida Lions Eye Bank Post Office Box 016880 Miami, Florida 33101-6880, or to your special charitable organization. Arrangemetns by Boyd Panciera Family Funeral Care, Hollywood, FL, 954-983-6400. You may sign the online guestbook at www.bpfamilycare.com.