A Saint Goes Home

On Saturday, December 9, 2010, my mother slipped her earthly bonds and is now safely home with her beloved savior Jesus Christ. 

Mother had struggled with heart problems for years, but she suddenly developed complications and died on Saturday, October 9. 

 My mother was not rich or famous, but she touched many lives during her 85 years and the church was completely filled for her memorial service.  Even the library closed so the staff could attend. 

Cornelia Neuswanger, 2001



  

Cornelia Marie Lybarger, Wedding Day 1949



Her given name was Cornelia Marie Lybarger, but she was known as "Cornie" to her Ohio family.  In Colorado, she was "Corky."  But in her later years, she wanted to be known as Cornelia.  In fact, she was ecstatic to learn that there was a boat named "Cornelia Marie" on Discovery Channel's "The Deadliest Catch." 



She was raised to treat all people equally, and cared especially for the Mexican migrants and their families.  She even took Spanish classes at Wray High School—probably their oldest student ever.  She taught me to see the person inside rather than the stereotype on the outside.

One young Mexican woman named Yohana told how Mother made her learn English so she could complete her immigration application, adding "I'm sorry Corky couldn't be here to see me finally get my green card."  But the best thing Mother did, said Yohana, "was introduce me to Jesus Christ, or I would not be here today."

Mother's memorial wish was for a scholarship at Wray High School for an outstanding Hispanic student.  So far we have received over $1000 in donations.  (Donations may be made to "Cornelia Neuswanger Memorial Fund" c/o First Pioneer National Bank, PO Box 96, Wray, CO 80758)

She wrote her own obituary, in which she declared that she was baptized as a child but it was not until she was nearly 50 years old that she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior, after coming to understand Rom. 10:9: if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Mother and Dad lived in Room 316.  Mother taped the word "John" above her room number and added a colon, so that it read: "John 3:16."

The pastor used Mother's own memorial notes to give a message of salvation,  "because when I see Corky in heaven, I know she's going to ask me, 'Did you tell them the salvation message?'"

In Mother's journal, she wrote of her joys and struggles, including years of being tired from a weak heart and unable to sleep from arthritis.  Her final journal entry was a paraphrase of Psalm 121.  "I lift up my imagination and my sight to the high bluffs south of the house, and I ponder, 'Where does my help come from?'"

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   from where will my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.

⁸ The Lord will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time on and for evermore