Mary Keene Cornelsen of Highland Beach, Fla. formerly of Chevy Chase, Md. passed away on Friday, only weeks before her 90th birthday. Mary, who was affectionately known as Keene, was a long time resident of Highland Beach, having moved here in 1985 when her husband, Ernest E. Cornelsen, M.D. retired. Keene grew up in Baltimore, Md. and attended Trinity Preparatory School. After her marriage, she moved to Washington, D.C. During the Second World War, she worked at the French embassy for the free French government. For many years, she lived in Kenwood where her children grew up. She was a member of Kenwood Country Club, Little Flower parish and Mystical Rose Society. Her husband died in 1987.
Travel, bridge and spending time with friends and family were her passions. She is survived by her companion of more than a decade Roy Lahring of Highland Beach, Fla., as well as four children: Camilla Cornelsen McLaughlin (Jim) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mary Keene Williams (Tom) of Potomac, Md., Sally Cornelsen (Reggie Scanlan) of New Orleans, La. and, James W. Cornelsen (Constance) of La Plata, Md. Loving grandchildren include Mary Melissa McLaughlin of Boston, Mass.; Sean Williams of San Francisco, Calif.; Abbie McLaughlin of Portland, Maine; Parker Williams of Potomac, MD; Cathleen Camilla McLaughlin of Bethlehem, N.H.; Meredith Williams of Chevy Chase, MD; and Kathleen Cornelsen of La Plata, Md. Friends may call on Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 4PM to 6PM at the Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, 745 N.E. 6th Avenue (N. Federal Hwy). A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 10, 2012 10:00AM at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3510 S. Ocean Blvd. (A1A), Highland Beach. Burial service will follow at a later date at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Md.