History
The Advent of Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home
Kelso's Funeral Home 1925
Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home began in 1924 in McConnellsburg, PA, when John W. Kelso purchased the Daniel’s Funeral Home on Market Street in McConnellsburg. In 1925 he purchased property at 322 North Second Street in McConnellsburg and made the necessary renovations to open later that year. John operated Kelso’s Funeral Home until his untimely death in 1948. Upon John’s death, his wife Mabel applied for a widow’s license with the state of Pennsylvania. Mabel operated Kelso’s Funeral Home until her son John “Jack” Kelso returned home from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
In 1950, Jack assumed ownership of Kelso’s Funeral Home. Jack owned and operated the funeral home with his wife Nellie from 1950 until 1981. After 1981, Jack was retained as a consultant to the funeral home and continued being active in the community with his wife Nellie for more than 45 years before their retirement. In the fall of 2000, Brett A. Cornelius became a licensed funeral director in the stat of Pennsylvania and assumed responsibility of the day to day operations of the McConnellsburg funeral home. In 2007, Brett became the fourth generation of the Kelso Family to own and operate the McConnellsburg funeral home. Along with his mother, Jacolin Kelso, they strive to continue the values and attributes which Fulton County was accustomed to when Jackie's parents, Jack and Nellie owned the funeral home.
Staff
Staff members of Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.
I am a fourth generation funeral director at Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home. My great grandfather John W. Kelso started the John W. Kelso Funeral Home in 1924. In 2007, I purchased the funeral home. I have one son, Jackson Edward Cornelius who you will often see playing in the funeral home parking lot. I am active in various service organizations in the McConnellsburg area including the Lions Club, the Great Cove Golf Club and the Fulton County Medical Center Foundation.
Phone: (717) 485-3401
