Obituary of Lola E. Soria De Cornehl

Lola E. Soria De Cornehl, of Morristown, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 85 years old.

Lola was born on September 2, 1940, in Sucre, Bolivia, to the late Jorge and Leonor Soria. From an early age, she embodied the best of both her parents: from her father, a military man, she learned discipline and strength; from her mother, an art teacher, she inherited creativity, curiosity and generosity. These qualities shaped Lola’s character and remained with her throughout her life.

Through her uncle, Lola met Hans J. Cornehl while the two men were working as technical engineers for the same airline. Their connection was immediate and enduring. Lola and Hans married on April 24, 1958, beginning a life together grounded in devotion, partnership, and resilience. They lived in remote mining camps, first in Bolivia and later in Brazil, often without modern comforts. Lola embraced this challenging life wholeheartedly to support her husband and raise their family.

From the early years of her marriage, Lola became the heart of her home. She raised her children with strong self-confidence and a deep respect for education. Setting aside her own aspirations, she devoted her life to her family, teaching her children to read and write, to approach life with discipline, to place truth above all else, and to live with compassion. Remarkably resourceful, Lola had an extraordinary gift for making something out of nothing, especially through the love she shared in her cooking and baking, from the family’s daily bread to her exceptional apple cakes, made from recipes passed down by her mother-in-law. No matter the circumstances, Lola was always present, steady, and loving.

Even though she married early in life, Lola’s thirst for knowledge never faded. She attended secretarial school, where she even learned to read and write in Braille—an expression of her deep curiosity and determination to learn. An avid reader, she was fascinated by other cultures and lovingly embraced many aspects of German culture through her husband, weaving those traditions seamlessly into family life. In later years, she found joy in knitting and in solving challenging puzzles, pursuits that reflected both her patience and her sharp mind.

Lola remained mentally sharp until the very end, approaching each day with purpose. She was a constant, loving presence in the lives of her grandchildren. Her life was defined by service, strength, humility, and unconditional love.

In addition to her parents, Lola was preceded in death by her sister Rosario Soria.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Hans J. Cornehl; her daughter Hannelore Cornehl De Cortez and her husband Hernan; her son Hans Peter Cornehl; her daughters Carola Watson and her husband Greg, Ingrid Cornehl and her husband Ravi Reddy, and her brother Jorge Soria and his wife Beverly; her sisters Teresa and Patricia Soria; her cherished grandchildren Franz, Erick, Gabrielle, Hans Christian, Nicole and Bruna, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Lola will be remembered as a woman of faith, quiet strength, endless resourcefulness, and profound love; a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and a guiding light to all who knew her.

Services will be held privately for her family.