London, Ontario April 29th, 2020 – Lois Cornelius touched many lives and it is with great sorrow that she left the world this morning. Lois sat on the Oneida Council, served as Oneida’s band administrator, and she was an elder with AIAI for over 20 years. More than anything she was always smiling, happy to speak with people and was a strong advocate for young people to get their education.
You could find her at many past workshops, gatherings, and powwows with a smile that could warm your heart on the coldest days and a gentle delicate voice to let you know everything will work out. Grand Chief Joel Abram stated “I served a few terms on Oneida chief and council alongside Lois. I will always remember her for her good nature and sense of humor. She was always a strong advocate for the Oneida language and she taught me a lot about being selfless and the importance of serving your community. She always had some good words to say at our meetings and expressed how happy and proud she was of the progress our young people have made.” Deputy Grand Chief Gord Peters adds “She was no stranger to hard work. Both of her parents were residential school survivors and she could work with her hands on the farm or with her mind on Council. She’ll be missed by everyone”
A fluent speaker in Oneida, Lois was a proud mother and grandmother. Her contributions on council and support for Oneida’s Long Term Care will forever be remembered just as those who saw her smile can never forget the warmth it made them feel.
