Rosemary Salebra Canney

Rosemary Salebra Canney, 95, passed away peacefully Dec. 12, 2023 in Madeira Beach, FL, surrounded by her family.

Rosemary’s life was defined by love of family, deep faith, a passion for learning, and her compassionate heart and brilliant spirit. She is survived by a son John R. Canney III, his wife Dagyne, and their children Melissa and John (Brooke); a daughter Caren Canney Wolk, her husband Brad, and their children Colin (Kimberly), Wesley (Shannon), Benjamin (Roya), Colby, Aynsley, Marshall, and Madison; six great-grandchildren Kaden, Keanu, Kiara, Alara, Callan and Cameron; a brother Charles Salebra and his wife Tricia; and many treasured nieces and nephews.

Rosemary was born in Utica, NY in August 1928 to Joseph and Mary Louise (Colacicco) Salebra. She graduated from Rutland High School and earned a degree from the College of Saint Rose. Rosemary then married the love of her life, John “Bud” Canney, Jr., with whom she spent a lifetime enjoying family, living their faith, and contributing to the community.

As an educator, Mrs. Canney left a lasting impact on generations of Christ the King School students. Rosemary’s unwavering passion for learning touched many young lives, and she taught lasting values just by the way she lived her life.

Faith was an integral part of Rosemary’s life. As an active parishioner of Christ the King Church, she taught CCD and forged lasting friendships with both the clergy and the Sisters of St. Joseph, where she found solace and community. She volunteered as a guardian ad litem in the Rutland community for many years, tirelessly advocating for the best interests of the children and the elderly or disabled adults under her care. She could often be found ‘out and about’ with her friends golfing, playing tennis, and skiing. She spent her retirement with her husband, family, and friends in VT, NY, and FL--but no matter where she was, she would quickly make friends and become an indelible part of the community, expressing her love with cookies, homemade mustard, or an earned spot on her everlong prayer list.

Of all the roles Rosemary held, her most cherished title was “Nan”. She was a constant presence in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending countless games, graduations, birthdays, vacations, and holidays--but also being there for the smaller, equally as formative moments, wherein her lessons were always taught by example. In countless games of gin rummy, she showed her family how to bet on yourself when you believed in the cards you’d been dealt. On the rare occasions it happened, she demonstrated how to lose gracefully. She’d stay at the table late into the night, helping her grandchildren with a particularly headache-inducing homework assignment, ingraining them with a work ethic that cut no corners. The consummate teacher, her love and support was always accompanied by detailed instructions. Do it once, and do it right. Any good meal should be followed by dessert. And whatever you’re looking for, whether it be as trivial as a missing sock or as significant as your faith, it can always be found in the last place you used it.

She is predeceased by her husband of 68 years, her parents, her brother Louis Salebra, and her in-laws John R. Canney Sr., Kathleen (Brodeur) Canney, Jean (Canney) Anderson, George “Geo” Canney, Robert “Bob” Canney, Mary (Canney) Williams, and Kathy (Canney) Smyrski.

Arrangements for a celebration of Rosemary’s life at Christ the King Church will be made at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you spend some time teaching and supporting a child in Rosemary’s memory, as Nan did with all of us.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home in Rutland