Cornelia E. MacDermott

Cornelia E. MacDermott

Cornelia Estelle MacDermott, age 93, of 1543 State Route 239, Stillwater, died at 12:45 P.M. Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at the Berwick Hospital Center, where she had been a patient for 3 days.

Born on June 8, 1916 in Kingston, she was the daughter of the late R. Bruce and Helen (Merrifield) MacDermott. She was a direct descendant of Luke Swetland, an early pioneer of Wyoming Valley. She resided at her present home since 1978 and previously lived in Kingston until her retirement from Mutual of New York (MONY) in 1978.

She was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School and The Dean School of Business. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Kingston and St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Benton.

During World War II, Miss MacDermott was an Aircraft Inspector in the US Navy Inspection Service. For many years after the war, through the Insurance Women of Wyoming Valley, she was in charge of the message center at the Luzerne County Civil Defense Headquarters. She was active with the Insurance Women Of Wyoming Valley (NAIW Int'l) and held many offices including President of that organization. She was a life member of Wyoming Historical Society.

She traveled extensively throughout the world, including most of Europe, Russia, China, Australia and New Zealand. Cornelia loved to paint in acrylics and oils from slides of her travels. In addition to traveling in her retirement, she was an avid reader, loved flower gardening, various cats who found a loving home with her, and most of all, her family and friends who adored her independent spirit.

Cornelia was preceded in death by two brothers; Robert and Donald MacDermott. She is survived by a niece Donna MacDermott Coombs & husband Rod of Sweet Valley, two nephews; David MacDermott, wife Jean, Stillwater and R. Bruce MacDernott, wife Linda, Winchester, VA as well as three grandnephews and one grandniece.

Private committal services will held at the convenience of the family in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wyoming Historical Society, 26 Swetland Lane, Wyoming, PA 18644 or The Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner Inc. Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Benton.