Hilda Faye Cornwell

Hilda Faye Cornwell, 77, of Melrose, IL, entered into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Marshall Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Marshall, IL. She was born January 15, 1943, in West Union, IL, the daughter of Charles Wesley & Sarah Esther (Strohm) Cornwell, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Lowell Cornwell; and her sister, Carol Ann Cornwell. She is survived by her sister, Reta Jean Cutrell (Yakima, WA); by her nephews & nieces-in-law, Charles “Chuck” & Barb Cutrell, Stephen & Justice Cutrell, and William Wesley “Wes” & Sheri Cornwell; and by her niece & nephew-in-law, Rene & John Hayes; as well as several great and great-great-nieces and nephews and cousins. Hilda grew up in the Melrose area, where she helped her parents run Cornwell's Grocery and Dry Goods, developing in her a work ethic that would serve her well for the rest of her life. Upon graduating from Martinsville High School in 1961, Hilda enrolled at Eastern Illinois University, where she would earn her bachelor's degree in education. She would further her education at Indiana State, where she earned her master's degree in education. Anyone who knew her could attest to the fact that teaching was more than a career to Hilda; it was her calling. For over 30 years, she dedicated herself to educating the children of Crestwood School in Paris and touched the lives of countless students along the way. Teaching was such a passion of Hilda's that she was active in Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society for women educators, the National Education Association, and the Illinois Education Association. She also taught Sunday school at the Melrose Church of God, where she was a lifelong member and longtime pianist. Alongside music, Hilda was also passionate about birds, and would study the various kinds that would grace her bird feeders. She also spent countless hours crafting and tending to her flowers, and this was a great source of joy in her life. Her retirement years found her back home in Clark County, where she served as both secretary and treasurer with the Friendly Neighbors (the home extension group) and could also often be found lifting her voice with the “Singing Sams”, a local vocal group. It was here that she also took on the role of caretaker for her brother, Lowell and her sister, Carol Ann. Though the retired educator was somewhat known for her stringency, this period of her life brought out the compassionate and gentle part of her. Those who were blessed enough to know her will remember Hilda Cornwell as an intelligent, independant spirit who not only lived excellently herself, but who also brought up generations of people to do the same. Due to the newly-increased public safety measures being enforced by the State of Illinois, funeral services will be private. However, a live stream of her service will be available to the public starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th. This can be done on Goodwine Funeral Homes' Facebook page or by going to https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream . She will be laid to rest at the Medsker Cemetery. Her family requests that memorials be made to either the “Medsker Cemetery” or to the “Marshall Food and Clothing Pantry”. The Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union is in charge of arrangements.