Ellen Cornwell

Ellen Cornwell

Ellen Celine (Conmy) Cornwell died June 11, 2008, in Tempe, Ariz., after a brief but spirited bout with cancer.

Ellen was born in Fargo to J.F.X. and Marcella Conmy Aug. 21, 1942. After the family relocated to Bismarck she graduated from St. Mary's High School. She attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, La., and after spending her junior year at the University of Paris she graduated in 1964. She and Bishop Cornwell were married Feb. 27, 1965, and had three children, Marcelle (Kevin) McCarthy, Mesa, Ariz., Molly, Globe, Ariz., and Timothy, Mesa.

After retiring from her employment with Broadway Stores, Ellen volunteered for Tempe Historical Society in the operation of Tempe Museum and Gift Shop and in the process was reputed to have read all the murder mysteries stocked in the adjacent library. Her primary interests also coincided with interaction in the nurture of her grandchildren, Alyssa, Rebeccah and Kevin McCarthy, and in sewing various craft projects ultimately for sale in in her daughter, Molly's shop. Occasionally her home-created Christmas gifts were the subject of much speculation regarding identity and utility.

Ellen is survived by her children; her grandchildren; her husband, Bishop; and also her brothers, Dr. Michael Conmy, Wauwautosa, Wis., Dr. Walsh (Shirley) Conmy, Modesto, Calif., Judge Patrick (Jo) Conmy, Bismarck, and James (Kathy), Brooklyn, N.Y.

She approached life with a serene acceptance of both triumph and tragedy and will be sorely missed.