Gov. Tom Wolf's mother, Cornelia Wolf, dies at the age of 94

Ed Mahon | York Daily Record

Years ago, Cornelia Wolf said her son got a wry sense of humor and his brains from his father.

"I think he's gotten self-confidence from both of us," she said.

That was back in 2014. At the time, her son — Tom Wolf — was running for Pennsylvania governor as a Democrat and a first-time candidate for elected public office.

That inherited self-confidence — plus some TV ads featuring his family —helped Tom Wolf win the governor's race.

The governor's father died in 2016 at the age of 95.

And on Thursday, the governor announced that his mother had died at the age of 94 at her home in Mount Wolf.

“My mother’s strength anchored our family, and we are heartened that many Pennsylvanians were able to experience her spirit and joy in these last few years,” the governor said in a statement on Thursday. “Our family will deeply miss my mother, but we know our remembrance of her will bring us comfort during this difficult time.”

More: William Trout Wolf, father of Gov. Wolf, dies

Arrangements are pending, according to a news release.

Cornelia, or Cornie, Wolf was well-known in Mount Wolf, a small borough of about 1,400 people in York County

"She was a first-class lady. She cared about everybody," said James Kinder, who was the mayor of Mount Wolf for more than 20 years. "Always asked how the children were. Always asked how the parents were. Always asked how other people were.”

Kinder's wife, Patti, grew up in Mount Wolf.

"Cornie was very loving," Patti Kinder said. "She was a mother to everyone."

And Cornelia Wolf was known for her faithful attendance at the town's annual Memorial Day parade. By tradition, bean soup is served in the park.

"She was always one of the first ones in line," Patti Kinder said.

The Wolf family's roots in Mount Wolf date back to when Tom Wolf's great-great-grandfather moved a store to a high point of a valley, and became the station agent and postmaster along a railroad line.

Cornelia Wolf grew up on the other side of the Susquehanna River in the Columbia area. Her father owned a butcher shop.

She met her future husband in 1942 at a bridge game. Bill graduated college early and entered the service during World War II.

After the war, he called Cornelia and asked her on a date. He wasn't sure if she would remember him.

"I was in hopes," Bill Wolf said.

She accepted. That led to them to getting married and raising four children: Tom, Andy, Cornelia (who goes by Cory), and Hank.

During the 2014 campaign for governor, Cornelia Wolf appeared in ads for her son. Some high school and local theater experience prepared her for the ads.

At an interview in her Mount Wolf home in 2014, she turned to her husband and joked about her comfort with being in the ads.

"What is it you always say? 'Turn on the bright light and Cornie will perform,' " she said.

Bill agreed, and she laughed.

Across York County, the Wolf family has been known for decades for its philanthropy in the community.

"Mrs. Wolf was a pillar of the York community, and she will be remembered fondly by all who knew her," state Rep. Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Township, said in a news release.

Cornelia Wolf served on the board for the York County Community Foundation from 1999 to 2003, including as vice president. In a tribute, the foundation's president and CEO, Jane Conover, said Cornelia Wolf was a vital leader in the revitalization of the foundation in 1992.

"According to those who worked on the plan with the Wolfs, Cornie was the task-driver – giving assignments and ensuring that the necessary work was being done," Conover said in the tribute.

Cornelia Wolf put the organization in a position to grow into a $150 million community foundation.

"We’ll remember Cornie for her visionary leadership, her loving kindness, and her generous spirit," Conover said. "We have been lucky to know her."

Meet Wolf's parents

The story below was originally published in June 2014

Tom Wolf's parents, Bill and Cornelia Wolf, had a small but important change to make to support their son's primary campaign for governor.

They switched from Republicans to Democrats in September 2013, according to county voter registration records.

At a Feb. 1 campaign event in York County, Tom Wolf joked that there were signs of some rolling over at a Mount Wolf area graveyard.

The Wolf family's roots in Mount Wolf date back to when Tom Wolf's great-great-grandfather moved a store to a high point of a valley, and became the station agent and postmaster along a railroad line. Wolf's mother, 90-year-old Cornelia, grew up on the other side of the Susquehanna River in the Columbia area. Her father owned a butcher shop.

She met her future husband in 1942 at a bridge game. Bill, now 93, graduated college early and entered the service during World War II.

After the war, he called her and asked her on a date. He wasn't sure if she would remember him.

"I was in hopes," Bill said.

She accepted. That led to them getting married and raising four children: Tom, Andy, Cornelia (who goes by Cory), and Hank.

Tom's mother told a version of that story in an April campaign message about how Tom had turned around the family business and saved jobs in 2009. Cornelia and Bill both appeared in a TV ad with Tom about issues facing seniors.

Cornelia spoke at a rally for Tom two days before the May 20 primary. Jim Kinder, a former mayor of Mount Wolf, introduced her as "one of the classiest young ladies I know.

"And I say young, because she certainly looks like she's about 60," Kinder said.

She took the microphone to cheers.

"This is amazing, Tom. You're amazing, too," she said and laughed.

"That's the first time she has ever said that," Wolf told the crowd.

The crowd laughed. Cornelia pointed at him.

"Could you remove him?" Cornelia said. "Because he's going to ad lib right behind me."

Later, Cornelia said she thinks Tom got a wry sense of humor and his brains from his father.

"I think he's gotten self-confidence from both of us," she said.

Cornelia Wolf, mother of @GovernorTomWolf, has died at the age of 94. Mrs. Wolf enjoyed seeing her son, the governor, when he appeared on @SmartTalkWITF at the PA State Capitol last summer. pic.twitter.com/A02AMSyMi1 — SmartTalkWITF (@SmartTalkWITF) June 21, 2018

Watch: Looking back at the life of William Trout Wolf: