Ralph D. Cornette

Ralph D. Cornette
1940 - 2018
WINTHROP - Ralph D. Cornette passed peacefully from this life to the next on April 13, 2018, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, with his family by his side.
Ralph was born on Feb. 28, 1940, to Joseph F. Cornette and Mabel (Radaelli) Cornette in Malden, Mass.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dorothy (Antonitis) Cornette, of Winthrop; his daughter, Kristen, of Marlborough, Mass.; his son, David, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and grandson Luke, of Dracut, Mass.; and his sister, Joan Cornette, of Everett, Mass. Ralph is also survived by several cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Lewis Cornette and Joseph Cornette Jr.
Ralph enjoyed walking with Dotty, watching the Red Sox and Patriots, doing crosswords and sudokus, cooking, vegetable gardening, photography, and when the children were young, woodworking projects and cake decorating for them.
Ralph grew up in Everett, Mass., graduating from Everett High School in 1958. He apprenticed at the Boston Naval Shipyard, joining Local 6 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Union. His work was in the Boston area and in Maine, which led to the family moving from North Easton, Mass., to Winthrop in 1980. In 1989, Ralph established and taught the Maine Apprentice School for the union. He retired in 1995. In the 1960s, Ralph briefly worked as an adjustor for GAB and co-owned a seafood takeout store.
Ralph married the love of his life, Dotty, on Nov. 21, 1970, and wanted nothing more than to spend as much time as he could with her and Kristen and David. They took many fun road trips together and enjoyed gatherings with extended family. In 1980, Ralph and Dotty experienced a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend and began a journey of 30 years serving the Catholic Church through that movement.
They helped present the weekend for 27 years, enriching the lives of hundreds of couples. They served terms as the leadership team for WWME in Maine and New England.
Church was a big part of Ralph and Dotty's life. In North Easton, Mass., at Immaculate Conception Parish, they served on the social committee and taught Confirmation class, and Ralph played Santa Claus every year at the Christmas bazaar. In Winthrop, they were active members of St. Francis Xavier Church and St. Michael Parish. Ralph prepared the weekly bulletin and set up the parish website, one of the first in the diocese. Together they served as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, taught Baptism classes, and presented Marriage Prep retreats. In 2011, after Ralph survived sudden cardiac arrest, he and Dotty volunteered with Mended Hearts at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, visiting cardiac patients and their families.
Since 2006, Ralph and Dotty wintered in Port Charlotte, Fla., forging wonderful friendships with residents in the Tala Lakes community. At St. Charles Borromeo Church, they served as Eucharistic ministers and Arimatheans. Ralph was most happy watching the Red Sox during spring training and walking along the beaches, harbor, and flatwoods of southwest Florida with his best friend.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, May 5, 2018, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 Route 133, Winthrop, at 11 a.m. Burial will be at a later date.
Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at: www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the
American Heart Association
at: donatenow.heart.org