Patricia Ann (Cornell) Hasenyager

Patricia passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on August 5, 2017 at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, as the result of a stroke.  She was born on October 29, 1934 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to the late Carl and Fern (Knox) Newell.

Patricia was a 1952 Graduate of Sault Ste. Marie High School and obtained her BSN from the University of Michigan in 1957.  While in a general medical class at U of M, Pat met her future husband, Dr. Homer E. (Gene) Cornell. The two married in 1956 and upon graduation in 1957, she moved to Philadelphia. Pat and Gene then moved to Grand Rapids where Pat taught Pediatric Nursing at Butterworth.  They were only in Grand Rapids a brief time, but made dear, life long friends and bridge partners. The couple then spent a few years in Detroit, welcoming a daughter, Deb and a son, Dan, before settling in Muskegon where they welcomed their third child, Karen.  Pat spent many happy years in Muskegon caring for her husband and children, enjoying her many friends and volunteering with various charitable organizations.  Following the sudden death of her husband in 1976, Pat returned to work at Hackley Hospital.  In 1981, she left Muskegon to pursue a Masters in Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  Upon her return to Michigan, Pat accepted a managerial position in the Pediatrics Department at Blodgett Hospital and moved to Grand Rapids. Pat’s true calling was Pediatric Nursing and she remained in this position until her retirement in 1998.  Pat married Rhonald Hasenyager in 1991 and they had 4 happy years together, which included memorable vacations and a lot of bridge playing.

Surviving Patricia are her daughters Debra (Dr. Robert) Cook of Marquette and Karen Cornell of Muskegon, her stepdaughter Lynn Hasenyager and stepson Rhonald Hasenyager of Springfield, IL and her beloved grandchildren Kelsey Cook, Korey Cook, Kacey Cook, Erica Cornell, Brandon Cornell, Webb Hasenyager and Tori Hasenyager.  Her sister in law Val Newell of W. Lafayette, IN and her children Vicki and Steve and their families also survive Pat. She was pre-deceased by her parents Carl and Fern, husband Gene Cornell, son Daniel, grandson Ryan Cook, husband Rhon Hasenyager and her adored brother, Bob Newell.

Services are planned for 11:00 am Friday, August 11 at Mayflower Congregational Church, 2345 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am with a luncheon in the church atrium following the service.  Burial will be at the Mona View Cemetery in Muskegon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mayflower Congregational Church or the PEO Educational Loan Fund c/o Ginny Orban, 1919 Boston ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49506

 Service Information