COLLISNVILLE- Irene Cornelius, 98, of Collinsville, Ill. passed away on December 21, 2016, in Alton, Ill., She was born on March 20, 1918, in Goughton, Maine, the daughter of the late Roy and Alice nee Hodgkin Norton.

She married Alexander Cornelius on April 28, 1945. He preceded her in death on December 4, 2013. She was also preceded in death by her son, William.

Irene was a faithful member of St. John United Church of Christ in Collinsville, Ill. Irene proudly served her country in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1945.

She is survived by her daughter Karen (Joseph) Getty of Collinsville, Ill.; grandchildren, Cadence Cornelius of St. Paul, MN., Alexander Getty of Chicago, Ill. and Christine Bjornsen of Davenport, Iowa; and daughter-in-law, Linda Cornelius of Clinton, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be made in Irene''s memory to the St. John United Church of Christ of Collinsville, Ill. Condolences may also be expressed to the family in this online guestbook.

Service: A graveside service will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.