Obituary of Cornelia J. Siligato

Rensselaer- Cornelia ”Corrie” J. (Fortuin) Siligato, 93, of Rensselaer, passed away peacefully on Monday September 5th, 2022, after a long illness.

Daughter of Hendrikus Fortuin and Anna CH (VanMegan) Fortuin, on June 30, 1929 in Rotterdam, NL.

She was educated in the Netherlands and grew up during WWII.

She came to America in January of 1957. When she first came to America, she worked for the NYS Health Dept. state laboratory even though she couldn’t yet speak English. She went to night school to learn to speak English.

She met her future husband, Louis C. Siligato and they were married on January 31st, 1959, in Rensselaer, NY. Together they raised two children: Mary Ann and Joseph Siligato.

She became a citizen of the United States in 1962.

A long-time communicant of St. John’s Church in Rensselaer. She was very active in the church, volunteering as a greeter, cleaning the altar, selling 50/50 tickets, giving rides to parishioners that needed transportation to church, and more.

She was a member of St. John’s Rosary Altar Society and the Queen of Peace prayer group.

Corrie was a very loving and giving person. She was always there when someone needed a hand. She was loved by all.

An avid card player, Corrie had lady luck on her side most of the time, much to the chagrin of the people she played cards with.

She was also an avid NY Yankee fan who would watch the games on TV.

She enjoyed entertaining her family and friends. There were many dinners, picnics, and parties where lasting memories were made and will live on in our hearts.

She enjoyed traveling with her closest friends aka “the 3 couples,” Earl and Ruth Bonacquisti, Joe and Charlotte Lombardo, and Nin and Bob Eckert.

She enjoyed trips to Europe, Florida, Atlantic City, Cape Cod, and more.

Corrie was an expert seamstress and made outfits for family and friends.

Cornelia is survived by her brothers Jan, Henk, and Cor (Thea) Fortuin; her children Mary Ann Siligato (Julie Gensicki), and Joseph Siligato (Alisha Siligato); nieces and nephews, Stephen Fortuin, Nancy Fortuin, Carol (Fortuin) Willsey, Randall Fortuin, David Fortuin, Richard Fortuin, Kenneth Fortuin, Robert Fortuin, and JoAnne Michaels and many more cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents Hendrikus Fortuin and Anna CH (VanMegan) Fortuin; her husband, Louis C. Siligato; her siblings; Fred Fortuin, Annie Fortuin, Hennie(Fortuin) Lauffer, Arnold Fortuin, and Maria Fortuin and her good friend Elizabeth "Beth" Smith with whom she enjoyed spending time.

We would like to thank her friends and neighbor, Carol Davitt and Gail Demarco for spending many hours with Corrie this past month. It means so much to us and you meant so much to her.

We would also like to thank St. Peter’s Hospice for making her final hours comfortable.

Funeral mass will be from St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church, Herrick Street, Rensselaer Friday at 10 AM.  All are welcome to attend.  Relatives and friends are invited and may call to the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer, Thursday from 3-7PM.  Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush.

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