Dien Cornelissen

Gerardina Maria Paulina "Dien" Cornelissen (8 May 1924 – 25 May 2015) was a Dutch politician and social worker. 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 1962 and 1978 she was member of the States of North Brabant. Between 1969 and 1971 she served a two-year stint in the Dutch Senate. She was member of the House of Representatives from 1971 for fifteen years, with a half year hiatus.

Career 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 2008 she was named an honorary citizen of Boxmeer, as of 2015 the only person to have been named such.