Cornelissen was born on 8 May 1924 in
Oploo. 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. In 1948 she became active for a foundation for social work in the countryside. Apart from her primary education she followed courses in social work and followed an education at the Social Academy in
Eindhoven until 1958. The political career of Cornelissen began in 1958 when she was elected to municipal council of
Boxmeer for the
Catholic People's Party. Cornelissen was the first female member of the council and stayed on until 1972. 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 (CDA) of which Cornelissen became member. In 1981 she was one of sixteen CDA members in the House that voted against the statute of the proposed coalition government of CDA,
PvdA and
Democrats 66. Between 1981 and 1986 she was also first deputy President of the House. ==Personal life==