Ms. Rosa Lee Conway

Our mother, Rosa Lee Conway, was born on November 10, 1932, in Wyatt, Missouri to Ida Mae Johnson and Edward VanTurner. On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Infinity Hospice in Las Vegas, NV, she transitioned from this life to an eternal life at the age of 92 years. Rosa spent many years living in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Carrollton, Michigan in 1944. She later met and married Lee Dell (L.D.) Conway on November 6, 1950. To this union six children were born: Leah, Larry, Vivian, Edward, Gigi, and Trent Conway. After 17 years of marriage L D. and Rosa separated and many years later divorced but continued to have a unique relationship remaining the best of friends until his death in July 2017. Rosa was a firm believer in education and insisted and made sure that all her children graduated from high school. To show that she practiced what she preached she returned to school at St. Joseph High School to receive her high school diploma which was an accomplishment that made she and her children very proud. Rosa continued her education by taking various college courses in food service that lead to her career in the Culinary Arts. Rosa was passionate about cooking. She would always say that she wanted all the love in her heart to come out in her food and it did. Rosa was well known throughout Saginaw for her hot tamales and tacos, especially her taco fundraisers. Rosa worked at various restaurants in Saginaw and was the owner and operator of Conway’s Catering for over 20 years. Whenever “Mrs. Conway” was catering everyone knew the food would be delicious. Rosa was most passionate about her 15-year career in Saginaw Public Schools as Cafeteria Manager at North and Webber Middle Schools. She always made sure the students had a good breakfast and lunch regardless of if they had money or not. She often paid for these lunches with her own money. Rosa was also known for the meals that she prepared for special holidays for the staff and students. When Rosa retired, she continued her relationships with staff and students. She would always talk about seeing her students, as adults, and leaving them with pearls of wisdom. Rosa was a faithful member of The Potter’s Touch International Ministries while living in Saginaw. She was the Church Mother and member of the Women’s Ministry. After she relocated to Las Vegas, her outreach continued with her robust telephone and Facebook ministries. Rosa would make calls to her fellow church members and friends to see how they were doing and pray with them. Rosa was a member of Word of Life Christian Center in Las Vegas, NV and served on their Telephone Outreach Ministry. She attended church regularly and served faithfully until her health began to fail. Rosa was intuitive, insightful, and instinctive. She really loved the Lord and took discipleship seriously by sharing the Word of God with everyone she met. For the last seven months of her life, she lived at Agave Specialty Care where many of the staff affectionately called her “Mama and Grandma” because of her nurturing spirit, kindness, and compassion. She could often be found sitting in her wheelchair in the kitchen sharing her culinary skills, and doing bible study or praying for other Agave residents as they were making their transition. Rosa was an exceptional woman of God who loved deeply and gave of herself without reservation to make sure others had what was needed. Rosa leaves to cherish in her memory her children Leah A. O’Daniels, Missouri City, TX, Larry Conway (Gwenda), Saginaw, MI, Vivian Rankins (Howard) Saginaw, MI, Gigi T. Simmons, and bonus son, Joshua Conway both of Las Vegas, NV; nine granddaughters, Deidra Conway, Huntersville, NC, Leah L. O’Daniels, Pearland, TX, Stacey (Fred) Pritchett, Largo, FL Shay’Quin Johnson and Stacey Moore, Saginaw, MI, Dr. Gigi J. Simmons, Inglewood, CA, Alexis Rankins, Houston, TX, Tamar Chipp, Springhill, TN, Briana Huntley, Bay City, MI; seven grandsons, Deon Conway, Saginaw, MI, Luther O’Daniels Jr., and Tobaris Doss both of Las Vegas, NV, Craige O’Daniels, Houston, TX, Edward Conway, Kenneth Dillard, and William Harris, all of Saginaw, MI; thirteen great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, Cynthia Chapman, Chicago, IL, Lynette Walker, Los Angeles, CA, three nephews, Leonard Chapman (Valarie), Mattson, IL, Malcolm Chapman (Cheryl) Rapid City, SD, Eddie Chapman (Lori), Chicago, IL; cousins, Thelma Hall, Las Vegas, NV, Quince Kidd, Chicago, IL; sister-in-law Jettie Broussard, Inglewood, CA; god-children Denise, Patricia, and Jackie Wilburn, Dewrail Rockett, special friends Willie Mae Landrum-Myrick and Linda Braddock, her life long friend Betty Jean Collins and a host of other relatives and friends. Preceding Rosa in death are her parents Ida Mae Chapman and Edward VanTurner; sons, Edward C. Conway & Trent J. Conway, bonus-mother Robbie VanTurner; bonus-father, William Chapman; sister, Deliath Wilson; brother, Eddie Chapman; aunt Emma Gossett; uncle, Walter VanTurner; granddaughter, Khanishuwa Quintana; sister-in- law, Bennie Chapman, sons-in-law, Luther M. O’Daniels, Sr. and Bruce E. Simmons; former husband, Lee D. Conway. The family of Rosa Lee Conway would like to thank all the caregivers in Las Vegas, NV that loved our mother, provided excellent care and called her Grandma: Claudia Romero, Mina Tremillo, Anissa Johnson, Rosita Castillo, the staff at Agave Specialty Care (Joy, Justin, Henrietta, Angie and Jasmin), Palmeira Home Health and Infinity Hospice. We would also like to thank Giddens Memorial Chapel, Las Vegas, NV, for our mother’s peaceful appearance, as well as Deidra Conway and American Airlines for her safe travels home to Michigan. Last but certainly not least, we would like to thank Evans & Browne Funeral Home for their compassionate care, professionalism, and support during this difficult time. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 17, 2025 at Truevine Missionary Baptist Church, 2930 Janes St., Saginaw, MI 48601, Rev. Paul E. Broaddus, Pastor and Min. Vivian Rankins will officiate. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Ms. Rosa Lee Conway

November 10, 1932 - March 1, 2025