Cornelia A. (Powers) Courtney

Cornelia Ann (Powers) Courtney, 85, of South Hampton, died peacefully on January 4 at Avita of Newburyport. Born in Governeur, N.Y., on Sept. 7, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Fremont and Sallie Powers of Henderson Harbor, N.Y.

Neil will be remembered for her perpetual smile, sense of humor, energetic spirit and genuine kindness.

The oldest of six loving sisters raised in northern New York, Neil attended Watertown (N.Y.) High and then Simmons College in Boston, where she majored in retail and worked as a buyer for Jordan Marsh.

Then one day she was invited on a sailboat out of Marblehead where she met Bill, and the two never parted for more than 50 years. They brightened every room they were in, and would have many adventures together sailing the Caribbean, touring Europe and exploring New England.

Bill and Neil settled first on the Point Shore in Amesbury, Mass., where they met a group of lifelong friends. A few years later they found their lifelong home a few miles away on the Powow River in South Hampton, N.H., where they raised their sons Will and Graham.

In South Hampton, Neil found her true calling. She had a natural curiosity about the world and unique ability to share it with patience and humor, and that made her an extraordinary teacher.

For nearly 20 years she taught math and science to 7th and 8th graders at the small Barnard School, and served as a dedicated tutor for kids who needed extra help to learn. She was named a New Hampshire Teacher of the Year and was honored with an outdoor science area dedicated in her name upon her retirement.

Neil most enjoyed being a mother, wife, big sister, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. As dementia began to take her memory over many years, Bill took loving care of her, and when she needed more help she became a favorite of the staff at Avita, who knew her as Cornelia. To the very end, she kept her spirit and smile.

Neil loved to capture memories in photos and words, and the cover of her last journal had words she began to use often – “Carpe Diem,” seize the day. That will be this great teacher’s final lesson to us all – be kind and grateful, and always find reasons to smile, because you never know when the days might start to slip away.

She is survived by her son William, his wife Amy and granddaughter Caroline of Amesbury; son Graham and wife Renata Horakova of South Hampton; sister Susan Washburn and husband Gary of Boise, Idaho; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. She his predeceased by her husband Bill, and sisters Ann Thomson, Donna Barber, Jeanne Crenshaw and Corinne Barker.

We will celebrate Neil this spring at the hilltop in South Hampton where her ashes will be buried next to Bill. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Barnard School Student Enrichment Fund, which fosters hands-on learning. Checks are payable to Barnard School, 219 Main St., South Hampton, N.H.