Cornelia Brady Wallace

Cornelia Brady Wallace, lovingly known as Tertia because she was the third Cornelia in her family, was born on September 16, 1938, in Washington, D.C., to John Brady and Cornelia Aldridge Brady, and passed away on January 23, 2026.

Cornelia is survived by her daughters, Amanda Wallace-Wetzel and Lucy Wallace; her son-in-law, Matthew Wetzel; and her grandchildren, Lilly and Rowan Wetzel. She is also survived by her siblings Brent Brady, Joanna Brady, and Barbara Prado.

Raised in part in South America, she later moved to New York City in the late 1960s, where she worked at the Ronald Press advertising company and met her husband, Robert Wallace. In 1974, they settled in Port Washington, New York, where they raised their two daughters, Amanda and Lucy. 

When her daughters were older, Cornelia returned to school and earned a master’s degree, becoming a bilingual special education teacher. She taught for 15 years in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where she was deeply committed to her students and to educational access.

Cornelia was also actively involved in her community. She was a member of the Community Chest and became engaged in local politics, where she formed dear friendships that lasted more than forty years while working to save Main Street School from demolition.

In her later years, Cornelia was an active member of the Port Washington Garden Club. She loved gardening and took great pride in making her home warm, welcoming, and inviting to all who entered.

Memorial services will be held in the spring of 2026.