Peter Cornelio

Farmington - Peter Cornelio, 93, a former resident of Jay, passed away, Thursday, April 9th at Woodlands Assisted Living Facility in Farmington. He was born in Riley, Maine on February 1st, 1927, a son of Bernadino & Alice Cornelio. Peter was their fifth child out of 11. He joined the Navy, during World War II, at the age of 18. He spent the majority of his time stationed in Okinawa. After he got out of the Navy, he fell in love with Rhea Turmel. They got married on June 14, 1947 and started their own family. Peter was a very devoted parishioner of St Joseph's Parish in Farmington, Me. He had many jobs in his lifetime. He started working for GH Bass & Co when he and Rhea lived in Wilton. They soon bought a farm and started raising chickens. He raised up to 56,000 chickens every nine weeks. He also had pigs, sheep and a few cows. He owned a back-hoe and built septic systems on the side. In later years, he was a school bus driver for the Jay School District. Peter was a woodsman at heart. He always heated his home with wood. He was very generous, and because he had boundless energy, he would cut, saw and split wood for family members that needed it, and deliver it to them. He continued cutting ten cord of wood every year, until he was ninety years old. Peter's favorite things to do were playing cards, picking berries, boiling down sap for making maple syrup, making Italian cookies and playing his guitar while his 6 kids would sit around and sing. He really loved and played with his grandchildren every chance he got. Peter is predeceased by wife Rhea (Turmel) Cornelio, youngest son, little John (at birth), adopted son, Douglas Williams, brothers Louis and Johnnie, sisters Mary and Millie Belskis and Rose Labbe. He is survived by sister, Angie Lowe, brother, Jimmy Cornelio with wife Paula, sister Louise Oaks & husband Don, brother Tommy Cornelio with partner Linda Stanhope and sister Gloria Tardif with husband Richard. Peter is also survived by daughter Alice Thompson with husband Paul, grandchildren Michelle Pomeroy with partner Ajay Ruatt, Alan Pomeroy with wife Bonnie, Mark Pomeroy, Chad & Seth Farmer and Nichol Lane. Son Denys Cornelio and wife Mary, grandchildren Carrie Jackson with fiance' Eric Sproul and Tyler Cornelio. Daughter Teresa King and husband Doug, with grandchildren, Erik Ross with wife Nickole and Matthew Ross with wife Paola. Son Donald Cornelio and wife Carla. Daughter Marian Cornelio and partner Anna Loken. Daughter Joanne Martel and husband Don, Grandchildren Craig Martel with wife Jennifer, Adam Martel with wife Tabatha, Alyson Fischer with partner Matt Landry, Travis Martel and wife Shannon and Janelle Martel with partner Liz Snyder. Peter was also survived by 22 Great-Grandchildren. Ethan Ruatt, Nathan Pomeroy with partner Jannel Inez Waterhouse with great great granddaughter Sarah, Drake & Lorna Farmer, Samantha and Sawyer Farmer, Milo Dustin, Gabrielle, Adelia and Ash Lane, Josiah Cornelio, Joshua & Hayden Ross, Jordan & Jenee' Weymouth, Noah, Eli and Josiah Martel, Tyler & Isaac Martel, Brice Fischer and Evelyn Landry. Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfuneralhome.com Cornelio – Peter, 93, a former resident of Jay, passed away, Thursday, April 9, 2020 in Farmington, Maine. A service will be announced at later date. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, 445 Park Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. Arrangements by FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. In lieu of flowers if desired contributions may be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105