Background
Cornelissen was born on 8 May 1924 in Oploo.
Cornelissen was born on 8 May 1924 in Oploo.
She started her political career in the municipal council of Boxmeer for the Catholic People"s Party in 1958, where she would continue until 1972. Between 1969 and 1971 she served a two-year stint in the Dutch Senate. Cornelissen had a total of eleven siblings.
She went to a boarding school in Schijndel and later the mulo until 1939.
From 1946 to 1948 she worked at an organisation which aided war victims. Apart from her primary education she followed courses in social work and followed an education at the Social Academy in Eindhoven until 1958.
While serving in the council she was elected to the States of North Brabant in 1962 of which she stayed member until 1978. She was member until she was elected to the House of Representatives of which she became member shortly after the 1971 general election.
She served in the House from 21 September 1971 to 7 December 1972 and subsequently from 28 May 1973 to 3 June 1986.
In the House she was occupied with public health, social work and justice. In 1980 the Catholic People"s Party was dissolved and merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal ( Capital Development Authority) of which Cornelissen became member. In 1981 she was one of sixteen Capital Development Authority members in the House that voted against the statute of the proposed coalition government of Capital Development Authority, Labour Party and Democrats 66.
Between 1981 and 1986 she was also first deputy President of the House.
The political career of Cornelissen began in 1958 when she was elected to municipal council of Boxmeer for the Catholic People"s Party. In the Senate she was the party representative on the topic of justice.
Between 1962 and 1978 she was member of the States of North Brabant. She was member of the House of Representatives from 1971 for fifteen years, with a half year hiatus. Cornelissen was the first female member of the council and stayed on until 1972.
She was elected member of the Senate by the States-Provincial in 1969.