Cora Mae Wright

Cora Mae, born December 14, 1942 in Oneida, Tennessee to Evelyn and Gilbert Koger, was the middle child working their 138 acre farm with siblings James Clinton (deceased), Clifford Sherrill (deceased), Cecile Ann (deceased), Milford Clayton (deceased), Clona Irene (deceased), Joan Carol, Conley Ray (deceased), Clifton Roy (deceased), Colletta Joan and Charles Vernon.

She had grand aspirations in life and left the country for the big City, leaving home at 15 and striking out for Chicago. Married at just 16, she birthed her daughter Tamara Lynn followed by son Timothy Edward a couple years later.

Cora was incredibly hard working, industrious, and scrappy; always working and busy to support and provide for her family. Family was everything to her. She counted herself blessed to also have grandchildren, Nichole Tyson Lovett and Joshua Timothy Hedman, that she considered her children too.

She married four times over the years, each husband bringing new cultures, new adventures, and new places of residence. Bob Bergemann was always considered to be her great love. He worked near her in Rogers Park, Illinois and shouted across the street one day "I'm going to marry you one day!" And he did just that, while taking her children for his own.

For a small town country gal of humble beginnings, Cora was strikingly gorgeous and always took great pride in dressing to the nines with color coordinated shoes, handbags and accessories. She never left the house without her "face" on. She was a great beauty and a lifelong knock out.

One of the most admirable qualities that she also instilled in her children and grandchildren was the importance in gathering and togetherness, always making sure to include people she knew that had lost their spouse or children, singles, widows, underdogs, loners, and outcasts. There was a place made for everyone at her table and food to share. She was a friend to all and had the biggest heart and kindest soul. She is loved far and wide for her generosity, thoughtfulness, her smile, moxie, and feisty spirit.

Throughout the years, Cora worked a myriad of jobs and professions from secretarial work, hand modeling, retail management, vixen, many roles within the paper and printing industry, and luxury cosmetic sales. She excelled and anything she did and naturally rose to positions of leadership and authority.

Her family will forever miss her little girl laugh, the twinkle of mischief in her eye, her quick wit and big personality, and her world famous lumpy mashed potatoes that she never did share the recipe of and that none of us have been able to recreate exactly like hers.

Cora had unwavering faith in the Lord. A lifelong Baptist, she enjoyed reading and studying the bible. She was an excellent golfer for most of her life, enjoyed tinkering in her gardens, and loved to shop. She loved hunting for sales and deals, thrift stores, Marshall's, and Dollar Tree were among her favorites. Music was always playing, old country music was her favorite but she seemingly knew the words to any and every song. Bird watching was among one of her favorite things and she delighted in cardinals the most. She particularly adored angels and Cardinals and loved the phrase "When cardinals appear, angels are near". When you see a cardinal, know that's Cora as an angel saying hi to 'yinz'.

Cooking and dining out was much loved by her. Commandeering a cast iron skillet was a skill she had like no other. Snacking on veggies and dip or making her red beans and rice with cornbread were top faves. For dining out she loved Applebee's, Olive Garden, and Texas Roadhouse best. Toast to her over a Cactus Blossom and she'll be thrilled!

No one could chat on the phone like Cora, she enjoyed keeping up with friends and family scattered all over the country. Her daughter and granddaughter carry with them a love of correspondence, sending cards covered in stickers and doodles for special occasions, birthdays, and holidays.

She was one of a kind. For such a petite lady, she had a great big giant heart, incredible generosity, and big personality. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and make friends wherever she went. She especially loved to flirt, something that never left her.

Cora always said the Lord would call her home when it was her time. To the shock of all, that happened a lot sooner than anyone thought. She never even got to fulfill her wish of winning big with Publisher's Clearing house, though she did regularly clean up playing Bingo.

It's impossible for any of us to think of life without her in it. She leaves her family heartbroken and devastated, especially daughter Tami (husband Tim Topcu), granddaughter Nichole Tyson Lovett (husband Paul Schmidt), grandson Joshua Timothy Hedman (wife Shannon Hedman), and great grandchildren Penny Piper and Dexter Enno. We are grateful for the happiness, adventure, purpose, and camaraderie that living at The Madyson of Palm Beach Gardens brought her. She made a big impact, involved herself in all the activities and committees, and quickly endeared herself to many. She was already out of the house when sister Colletta was born but they were able to really get to know one another and forge their own special bond along with nephew Jason and niece in law Jackie during the time she had moved across the state of Florida from Spring Hill to Palm Beach Gardens. We know that her mother Evelyn, her big love Robert, her precious son Timothy, and countless friends, family members and pets were there waiting to welcome her to Heaven and join them as an angel.

Cora left this world surrounded by love and family. Her grandson on one side, her daughter on the other, with her granddaughter curled up next to her in bed with her arms around her, all while her favorite country songs softly played. Fittingly so, Dolly Parton's 'Coat of Many Colors' had just begun to play... one of her most favorite songs by one of her most favorite artists. We know she left this existence with a song in her heart and a smile on her face.

As she often said "Just look up at the stars and know I'm there looking back at yinz" Godspeed mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. You will be forever missed until we're reunited again.

As per Cora’s wishes, she is to be cremated and no viewing or funeral to be held. In leu of flowers, please plant a tree in her memory or make donations in her memory to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation or the Native Indian Child Welfare Association.

https://www.floridabreastcancer.org/

https://www.nicwa.org/