Despite the many adversities in her life, Cornelia “Connie” May Thielman never lost her cheerful disposition or the ability to reach out to others. After undergoing surgeries to have a breast removed and both her legs amputated, the 82-year-old grandmother still delighted in her weekly games of bingo, singing with her choral group and ongoing conversations with friends in the retirement home, where she lived for the last several years. “She never wallowed in self-pity or let anything get her down,” said her daughter, Linda Parr. “She was a real trooper, the kind of person who put others first and did all she could to keep everybody’s spirits high.” Mrs. Thielman, a lifelong Aurora resident, died after suffering a stroke, Sunday, Jan. 25, in Jennings Terrace retirement home in Aurora. The daughter of Romanian immigrants, Mrs. Thielman grew up in a strict Baptist household, where her parents taught her the language and customs of their native land. “She was brought up very Old World, where good old-fashioned values were not only taught, but enforced,” her daughter said. After graduating from East Aurora High School, Mrs. Thielman opened the Modern House Beauty Shop in downtown Aurora, which she operated for about 10 years before its closing and her marriage to Wilbert Thielman. “When I was young, she’d curl and perm my hair all the time,” recalled her daughter. “My kids laugh seeing old pictures of me, because my hair was all frizzy with these tight little ringlets.” After her husband’s death in 1977, Mrs. Thielman became a single mother, raising their two children on her own. “It was a very difficult time for her, but her heart of gold and reassuring ways kept our family going,” her daughter said. In 1994, after being diagnosed with cancer, Mrs. Thielman had her breast removed. Six years later, she had both legs amputated due to poor circulation. “She’s always been a very social person, so even after the surgeries she still kept active,” her daughter said. “She knew just about everyone at the retirement home and never missed a day of bingo. Last month she won $76, a real jackpot for her.” Family members said Mrs. Thielman was an avid Chicago sports fan, particularly when it came to the Chicago Bears. “She not only knew the players, but she could tell you their stats too,” her daughter said. Mrs. Thielman was also a member of VFW Waidley Post Women’s Auxiliary in Aurora. Other survivors include a son, Jerry; a brother, August Popp; and four grandchildren. Services have been held.
