Dolores E Cornute—”Sit On Your Own Bottom”

There were two things Dolores Cornute always had: God and her traveling shoes. Tragedy caused her early moves; opportunity and a search for God prompted her nomadic adult life.

“Sit On Your Own Bottom”

She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 21, 1929, to Lacy Leon Cornute, a plasterer by trade, and Lillian Harris. Dolores was devastated by the loss of her mother when she was only five years old. For a time, she was raised by her maternal great aunt, Sallie Towns. When her dear aunt also passed away, Dolores
was sent to live with her father and his family in the tiny village of Proctorville, Ohio.

During those early years in Ohio, Dolores developed a strong bond with her paternal grandparents Mary Price Cornute and William Otha Cornute. She learned the value of hard work, dedication and independence. She would often repeat something she’d heard her grandmother say time and time again: “Every tub got to sit on its own bottom.”

This philosophy was what influenced Dolores’ decision to venture into the world as a young adult after graduating from high school. 

She first moved to Seattle, Washington. While there, she suffered a horrific injury that left her fighting for her life in a Catholic hospital. She had been so badly hurt that the priest performed an emergency baptism. Then and there she converted to Catholicism. She credited the church and her faith in God for keeping her alive during those years living on her own in a large city, far from home and family.

Her three children were born in Seattle. First Jerome, then Bonita, then Peggy. She was committed to her children and made endless sacrifices so they could have food, clothing and a roof over their heads. Sometimes working two and three jobs, Dolores gave her children a decent life, a strong Catholic upbringing and endless
love.

Guided by the Holy Spirit

That love is what prompted her to relocate to different cities across the country. She often said she went where she thought God was. In raising her children, she let the Holy Spirit guide her steps. When she felt a situation was counter-productive or even harmful, she’d move on.

That urge to keep moving took her and her children from Seattle to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Springfield, Massachusetts where she worked for Insurance Company of North America. She later got a job doing data entry for the Massachusetts Department of Welfare. After a 24-year career with the state, having worked long past the retirement age of most people, Dolores retired in 2000.

With no regrets, Dolores was on the road again. She left Springfield to live in Roanoke, Virginia. After a short time there, she moved to Durham, North Carolina, then to Rochester, Minnesota. In 2008, she finally settled in St. Louis.

She knew no one in the places she moved to before coming to St. Louis, but Dolores always said she was never alone because she had God in her life. And it seems her faith made it possible for her to explore while teaching her children the benefit of being self-sufficient, hardworking and God-fearing.

Those She Leaves Behind

Dolores is on her way to be reunited with her parents and deceased siblings, a half-brother, James Cornute, and a stepsister, Linda E. Cornute.

Dolores is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly.

Mourning Dolores are her son, Jerome Cornute and his wife Marcia Morovitz Cornute of St. Louis; granddaughters Naomi Cornute and Miriam Cornute Nova, her husband Jaichael Nova, great-granddaughters Lillian Nova, Hannah Nova and Elinor Nova; her daughter, Bonita Cornute of St. Louis, and her daughter, Peggy Cornute of St. Louis, grandson Omar Cornute and his wife Ravetta Jackson Cornute, great-grandson Jaylin Cornute and great-granddaughter Isabella Cornute.

She will also be greatly missed by her half-brother, Robert L. Cornute (wife Carmen, deceased) of Saratoga Springs, New York and half-brother Otha Leon Cornute and his wife Denise of Dallas, Texas.

The wisdom and love shared by Dolores on a daily basis will be missed by her many cousins, nieces, nephews and the friends she made throughout her life’s travels.