Rosanne Johnston Conaway

OSWEGO – Rosanne (“Rosie”) Johnston Conaway, 88, of Oswego, NY, formerly of Bradford, PA returned to spirit on January 31, 2025.

Rosanne was born in Bradford on October 15, 1936, the daughter of Mary Ann Fees Johnston and Al Smart Johnston. She was a member of the Class of 1954 of Bradford High School and attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. During summers and school vacations, she worked in the family business The Johnston Store. In 1956, Rosanne married David O’Hanesian. She devoted her early married life to raising her children in Pittsburgh where she was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She resumed her education and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and later earned a master’s degree in Library Science. She worked in Pittsburgh at McKee Place High School as Director of Community Based Learning, at Vintage Senior Adult Center as Information and Referral Specialist, and at La Roche College as Government Documents Librarian.

After her first marriage ended, Rosanne returned to Bradford where she was re-introduced to Bob Conaway, who became her second husband. From 1983 until her retirement in 1999, Rosanne was Government Documents Librarian and Director of Library Instruction at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Hanley Library. She also taught writing and grammar courses at the university. She was a Charter member and Board member of the Friends of Hanley Library. She and her mother co-chaired the Friends Membership Committee from 1990 to 1999. After the death of Bob in 2002, Rosanne returned from retirement to Pitt-Bradford where she was employed by The Panther Shop until 2007.

She was a past member of the Friends of the Bradford Area Public Library, the Bradford Landmark Society, The Bradford Club, The Tuna Valley Trail Association, the Kinzua Viaduct Revitalization Committee, Bradford Historic Architectural Review Board, and the BHS Class of 1954 Reunion Committee. Following in her mother’s footsteps (Mary Ann Johnston wrote Bradford’s history, A Pocket of Peace), Rosie compiled a history of The Option House from its early days in the 1900’s through its restoration and re-opening in 2009. After moving to Oswego in 2011, she joined and volunteered for The Friends of Oswego Public Library, maintained the Shadow Brook Library in the senior community where she resided and volunteered for Oswego’s Bookmobile program. In addition to reading, volunteering and spending time with her family, Rosanne enjoyed making greeting cards for family and friends from the beautiful flower photos taken by her cousin the late Dr. Bob Johnston.

Rosanne is survived by a loving family of sons David O’Hanesian (Susan Krivin) of Santa Cruz, CA and John O’Hanesian (Laura) of Healdsburg, CA, daughters Mary Ann Preston (Scott) of Oswego, and Christy Conaway Edwards (Clark) of Oswego, sisters Kathy Comilla (the late Carmen) of State College, PA, and Tookie Wozniak (Jack) of Pittsburgh, granddaughters Amber Rose Elf-Wagner (Stephan) of Portland, OR, Meline Preston of Oswego, and Aubrey Mae Kemp (Dan) of Ukiah, CA, cousin Mary Cox Hatfield (Jim) of Ukiah, niece Ann Zeller (Dan), nephews Bob Pringle (Maureen Trusky), Scott Pringle (Linda Morley), Alec Pringle (Jodi), Joe Wozniak (Maura), great grandsons Sebastian and Max Wagner, Henry Kemp and many treasured friends.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on February 15, 2025, at Nelson Funeral Home, 11 West Albany Street, Oswego NY.

A memorial donation may be made to the Bob and Rosie Conaway Scholarship Fund, or to Hanley Library, both at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, PAE Office, 300 Campus Drive, Bradford, PA 16701, or online at www.givetoUPB.org or to the Oswego Public Library or the Oswego Bookmobile.

Arrangements are under the caring guidance of Nelson Funeral Home.