CORNELIUS MARY JOAN It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Joan Cornelius announces her passing on Sunday, November 1, 2015, at the age of 81 years. Mary Jo was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Duquesne University with a nursing degree in 1957. It is there where she met her sweetheart and husband of 53 years, Fred (deceased). Upon graduation, she immediately began working as a visiting nurse and would travel throughout the city caring for patients in their homes. In 1965, the family relocated from Pittsburgh to Potomac, Maryland. In the early 1970s, Mary began work at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) first in the critical care unit before moving to the Pulmonary Lab. She then began a 30-plus year career at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where she worked in the medical device evaluation and approval section. Mary retired from the FDA in 2011. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children, Judith Marie (Gerald) Turcott, Frederick Joseph (Maria) Cornelius, Gregory Richard (Dawn) Cornelius, Elizabeth Ann (Gregory) Nairn and Marcus Jude Cornelius. Mary will also be fondly remembered by her eight beautiful grandchildren, Genevieve, Patrick, Claire, Michael, Anna, Rachel, Jacob and A.J.; and by her siblings, Carol (Frank) Happ and Marilou (Jay) Gemperle. Visitation with the family at 10:00 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 9601 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD. Interment to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Please sign family guest book at www.DeVolFuneral Home.com. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb