Cornelia Wenokor Obituary (1960 - 2025) - South Orange Village, New Jersey

Cornelia Berta Caroline Wenokor passed away on January 4th, 2025. She was 64 years old. She left this world far too early, but her memory lives on through the many lives she touched. She will be remembered for her unapologetic nature, her determination, and her honesty, as well as her generosity and her overflowing love for life. Cornelia was born in Landshut, Germany, to parents Anneliese and Helmut Imhof. She was the middle child of three sisters. When she was young Cornelia spent vacations with her family hiking in the Alps, where she developed her love of nature. Later she decided to become a doctor, going against the gender norms of the time. Her keen sense of adventure and love for an American she met juggling in a park one day led her to start a new life in the US at the age of 31. In the US, Cornelia became a successful musculoskeletal radiologist. She spent the last 23 years of her career working at the University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. She was loved and respected by many of her colleagues. In addition to her impressive career, Cornelia was an engaged and dedicated mother. Her children were the lucky recipients of elaborate birthday cakes and homemade Halloween costumes. She taught her children how to speak, read, and write in German. She included her children in lots of her favorite activities, from cooking to travelling. For the last 28 years, Cornelia and her family lived in South Orange, NJ. When they first moved to South Orange, Cornelia and her husband, Eric, were passionate gardeners. Eric grew beautiful rose bushes, and Cornelia planted her own fruits and vegetables. However, the local deer eventually found their way into the garden, and Cornelia’s love for gardening was replaced by a passionate hatred of deer. Fortunately, Cornelia was never short of hobbies. In her 50s, Cornelia started to get crafty. She was inspired by her sister Barbara, who made lovely handmade greeting cards. Cornelia started to make greeting cards as well, and just like with everything else she did, she went all in. She started her own blog and Instagram page to showcase her cards, and eventually got noticed by others in the crafting community. She was recruited by several craft supply companies to make cards showcasing their products; she’d often come home from a long day at work and get right to working on a card for one of her design teams. Cornelia is survived by her devoted husband, Eric, and her children, Rebecca and Gregory. Cornelia is also survived by her two sisters, Barbara and Bettina. Cornelia had a deep respect for nature. She will receive a green burial in beautiful Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and her remains will support the growth of local wildflowers and trees. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following non-profits: Healthcare without Harm aims to make the healthcare industry more sustainable, benefitting both human and planetary health. Cool Earth prevents rainforest deforestation by providing funds directly to struggling indigenous communities. Cool Earth is known for its efficient use of donations.