Rensselaer- Cornelius F. Cook age, 87 years, passed away on Thursday December 8, 2016. He was born in Albany and has been a resident of Rensselaer all his life. Neil as he was affectionately known by his family and friends was employed by the New York State Department of Tax& Finance as a supervisor. He was a US Army veteran serving during the Korean War. He was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church in Rensselaer attending St. Joseph's Church for many years. Neil was a big collector of beer steins and was a big fan of the NY Yankees and Notre Dame. Son of the late Edward J. and Cathleen B. Noonan Cook; brother of Edward S. Cook and the late William P., James V. and Joseph P. Cook and Kathleen Schermerhorn; uncle of Deborah Knight, Candace Schermerhorn, Alyce Schermerhorn, Linda Goodwin, Joseph Cook, Jr., Eileen Jacobs, Judy Conlen, John Cook, Michael Cook, Patricia Cook, Kathleen Cook, Christine Ryan, Laurie Gosh, Nancy Ryan, William Cook, Carol Genovese and Edward Cook. Also survived by several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral will be from the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer Thursday morning at 9:00 and 10:00 at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church Herrick Street Rensselaer, where the the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 5-7 pm. Interment with military honors will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. In lieu of flowers contributions may be to Community Hospice of Schenectady County 1411 Union Street Schenectady, NY 12308.