Obituary: Cornelia Chichester Carlton

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

UPDATE: A celebration of life for Cornelia will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday July 13, 2024 in the St. Peter by the Sea Church located in Eagle Harbor, Michigan.

Cornelia Chichester Carlton of Eagle Harbor, Michigan passed away after a brief illness on January 2, 2024, at the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium surrounded by family. Cornelia was born on September 27, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to George and Margorie Chichester (Gilkey).

Cornelia was a 1957 graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and worked with the deaf and in related fields her entire professional life, first as a teacher of the oral deaf in Cleveland Ohio and then in suburban Chicago. After learning sign language, she tutored both hearing and deaf students, was a substitute teacher, taught lip reading and interpreted church services for many years.

She met the love of her life, Frank Carlton, while both were students at Northwestern and were married in August of 1959. They settled in Downers Grove, Illinois raising two sons, John and Michael. Time was spent in the UP both at the harbor and at their Phoenix farm getaway, which they enjoyed for many years, until purchasing and retiring to their home on Pine Street in Eagle Harbor.

Cornelia was active in her church, a member of the Keweenaw Historical Society and supported many causes dear to her heart.

She made many dear friends in her life.

A lifelong baseball fan, she kept score at her son’s little league games and often did so when enjoying the Chicago Cubs at Spring Training, at Wrigley Field or listening on the radio, in later years she became a Detroit Tigers fan much to our surprise.

Cornelia spent many years as a guide at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, was an avid birder, enjoyed the natural beauty of the Keweenaw and took to drawing and watercolor painting to capture the wonders she observed.

She enjoyed music, played guitar, piano and sang in folk groups, passing on her love of music to her sons. She sang and enjoyed reading as part of her church.

Cornelia was an avid reader, surrounding herself with books and enjoyed sharing her love of literature with family and friends. She was a serious card player, playing bridge her entire life, later taking up mahjong. She liked to win.

Cornelia is preceded in death by her parents George and Margorie Chichester (Gilkey), her husband Frank Carlton and her sister Mary Chichester. She is survived by her sons John (Janelle) Carlton of Saint Cloud, MN and Michael (Natalie) Carlton of Orland Park, IL along with four grandchildren Kristin, Sarah, Kayden and Miles as well as a great granddaughter Amina.

A celebration of life service is planned for the summer of 2024 in Eagle Harbor, MI.

In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Cornelia, the family requests consideration of any charitable donation be made to New Beginnings Angel Mission of Calumet MI,  Bethany Lutheran Church of Mohawk MI or a charity of your choosing.

The Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences for the family can be made at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.