Karen Cornell

Karen Cornell, age 66, of Elburn, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, February 4, 2016.
She was born July 22, 1949, in Boston, MA, the daughter of Peter and Rose Peters.
Karen grew up in Boston and attended local schools. She graduated with the class 1967. When she was 19, Karen and a girlfriend moved to Batavia, IL, and worked at Colonial restaurant in St. Charles.
It was at Colonial that she met the man she would marry, but Karen made him work for it. It took a month for Glenn “Junior” Brewer to convince her to take a chance, but his perseverance paid off. They walked side by side down the aisle on October 11, 1969 at Most Precious Blood Church in Hyde Park, MA.
They began their new life together in the Still Meadows subdivision of Elburn. They were blessed with three children, Steven in 1971, Scott in 1974, but took the birth of their daughter Shanna in 1978 to make the family complete. In 1986, the family, as well as the surrounding community, was laid low by the sudden passing of Junior. Karen’s steadfast strength and boundless love for her children kept the family together. Her heart remained open to love and was married to Larry Cornell for a time. In recent years, she only had eyes for Don Rowlett who gave Karen his heart in return.
Karen was a hard working woman who never flinched from a challenge. She worked for Monitor for a time, and made a name for herself at Stover Brothers Trucking, but became infamous during her eighteen years at the Elburn Co-Op, both at the Meredith and Elburn locations.
Karen was lifetime member of the Elburn Lions Club and dedicated thousands of hours supporting her community.
Karen’s love for her children trumped all, but shopping came in a close second. If you were looking for an opinion on most anything, you need look no further. In the early years, Karen and Junior enjoyed tearing up the dance floor with friends at local dances and held her own when it came to bowling. She was an avid reader and a movie fanatic, but most enjoyed times surrounded by family and friends.
She is survived by her three children: Steve (Lori) Brewer, Scott Brewer and Shanna (Charlie) Brewer Valdez; Five grandchildren: Cheyann Brewer, Kelsey Brewer, D’Andre Valdez, Charlie Valdez and Henna Valdez; One sister, Elaine (Bobby) French and a community of friends who will miss her dearly.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Junior.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Karen’s name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the “Karen Cornell Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can find her full life story.

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be Thursday, February 11, also at the funeral home, at 10 a.m., with a time of visitation from 9-10 a.m. .

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119.

Interment will follow at River Hills Memorial Park, Batavia, IL