| Date of Birth | June 2, 1908 |
| Passed Away | August 3, 2009 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Time | 2:00 PM |
| Service Location | Bishopville United Methodist Church |
| Interment Location | Indian Mound Cemetery |
CORNELIA B. HUFF
Cornelia Kathryn (Bradley) Huff of Hornell, New York, was born June 2, 1908 near Aurora, New York and died peacefully on August 3, 2009 at her home on Pennsylvania Hill at the age of 101. She grew up on the family farm at Rocky Point on the east side of Cayuga Lake. She often recounted life growing up on the farm, including the time she was struck by lightning while piling hay on a wagon. After graduating from Elmira College in 1929 with a BA in foreign languages, she taught Latin, French, English and mathematics at schools in central New York State including Moravia, Ludlowville, Truxton, Endicott, and Arkport. After retiring from teaching in 1969, she opened Hornell Travel Service which was associated with Wellsville Travel Service. She managed that office until the mid 1970s.
Cornelia met Willard (Bill) Huff, her husband of 55 years, at a Grange event in Cayuga County, and they married on June 28, 1935. Willard died in October, 1990. She is survived by sons Gail Bradley Huff (Fresno, CA) and David Nettleton Huff (Pittsburgh, PA), and Suellen (Gable) Huff (Greenwood, IN), widow of Carlyle Craig Huff who died in October, 1994. She had 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Cornelia loved to travel. In 1934, Cornelia, her aunt, her sister and mother drove across the country to California and back. In later years, her travels with her husband took her to England, Germany, Greece, the Holy Lands, Australia, Denmark and Iceland, where many longstanding, personal friendships were developed. She and Bill also opened their home to foreign guests that they met through Cornell University and Rotary International Exchange Programs.
She started an AFS (American Field Service) chapter at Arkport enabling foreign exchange students to live with host families in the area and study at the school. For many years she was an active member of American Association of University Women, and she was a member of the Cayuga Lake Grange for over 75 years .
During their retirement years, Cornelia and Bill enjoyed being Winter Texans in McAllen, Texas. Cornelia loved to visit friends and family, to read, and to work crossword puzzles, activities she continued until near the end of her life.
The family is very grateful to neighbors and caregivers who made it possible for Cornelia to remain in her home and enjoy the birds, deer, and other wildlife she could see from her windows.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Cornelia Huff will take place on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 2:00 PM at the Bishopville United Methodist Church (New York). An interment service for the family and relatives will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Indian Mound Cemetery, Moravia, New York.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bishopville United Methodist Church, Bishopville Road, Arkport, NY 14807.
Arrangements are with the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, NY.
Cornelia has been in my thoughts even though we had stopped communicating after she turned 100. Meeting Cornelia and Bill so many years ago when we were living in Hornell meant so much to us.We met in various places after we left Hornell. May Bill and Cornelia be joined once again.
Cornelia was surely a smart and energetic person; what a special soul. We will miss our summer visits with her and the sharp mind she had all these years. She remembered so many things about our families and could tell stories and describe people so well.
She had seen so many changes in her long lifetime. I wish we knew more of her stories. My condolences to her sons and family. You certainly had a special mom.
Lynne Bradley
[My father, Henry Bradley, and Cornelia were first cousins. My father was only a few months older than Cornelia and the stories they both told showed how their two families spent much time together and helped on each others farms when needed. I always liked to hear her story about surviving a lightning hit. She and my Dad could talk into the middle of the night about the “old days” and their relatives.]
“I remember Cornelia so vividly and am so happy to have known her” were words told to me in remembrance of her wonderful Christian life by Janet Blankman Gydesen, Boonville, NY. Cornelia and I both knew Jane.
Mary Ann Paddock is submitting this for:
Mrs Huff was a wonderful woman and dedicated teacher. I was not a great French student yet she made a point of contacting me in later years..she had followed my career and read my book. I had the opportunity to meet with her and was not surprised to learn that she knew where most of her former students were and what they were doing..she shall be missed.
I loved my Aunt Cornelia. She and her family were always a bright light in my childhood and subsequently throughout my latter years. Good-bye, for the present, Aunt Colnelia: I look forward to seeing you and Uncle Bill on the other side of the veil when that day comes to pass. In the mean time, enjoy your well deserved rest and reunions with your dear ones.
Love always,
Charlie (Charles) Huff