Obituary of Nancy Hatheway Cornish

CORNISH, Nancy “Pixie” Hatheway (nee Hazen) - of Hebbville, NS, wife of Vernon Cornish, died on May 26, 2024. Born December  20, 1941, in Saint John, NB, daughter of the late Arthur "Ozzie" Hazen and Margaret Ann "Peggy" (McDonald) Hazen, stepdaughter of the late Commander Norman L.  Pickersgill.  

Pixie graduated from Nepean High School in Ottawa. In Ontario she studied at Teachers College, Hamilton, Queens University, Kingston and Carleton University, Ottawa. After teaching school in Ottawa for two years, she moved to Connecticut. Upon her return to Canada four years later she lived in Truro, Nova Scotia where she attended NS Teachers College, studying Home Economics. She taught Home Economics in Barrington Passage before accepting a position at Mahone Bay School where she set up the school's first Home Economics program and taught there for seven years.  

Pixie was very musical. She was awarded the Governor General's 25 Year Award for her volunteer work with the Bridgewater Fire Department Band where she played flute for 35 years. Having a childhood dream of learning to play the bagpipes, upon an early retirement she took piping lessons at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton for a week each summer for seven years. Appropriately attired in her clan McDonald tartan kilt, she played the pipes at many weddings, funerals, and other special occasions. As well as her music, she enjoyed renovating houses with her husband, interior decorating, sewing, and gardening.  

Pixie is survived by her husband, Vernon Cornish, her son Christopher Berry, her daughter-in-law Melissa Berry, and grandson Logan Berry, all of Middle LaHave, NS; her daughter Melanie Candice Smith of Kenner, Louisiana, USA; and three half-brothers in Stratford, Ontario - Dr. Bill Hazen, Dr. Ward Hazen and John Hazen. Also surviving her are two of her best friends, cousins Jane Tarn, St Andrews, NB, and Janet Riddell, Woodman's Point, NB; plus other cousins, Sandy Turner, St. Andrews, NB, Catherine McDonald, Ottawa. ON, and Yo McDonald of Gatineau, QC.  

No funeral by her request.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where online condolences may be made at www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.