Rosanne Openshaw Newell

Rosanne Openshaw Newell, our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, age 83, passed away on November 30, 2024, at home after progressing health issues.

Born on June 10, 1941, in Hamilton, Ohio to Jay T. and Madge Wadsworth Openshaw.

Married Clark Buckley Newell Jr. on August 19, 1964, in the Salt Lake Temple and had a beautiful marriage of 60 years.

 Rosanne spent the first part of her childhood in the Avenues then moved to Holladay. She graduated from Olympus High where classmates were cherished and connected for a lifetime. After high school, she attended the University of Utah where she met some of her life-long friends in the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and graduated with a degree in elementary education. Her first teaching job was at Oakridge Elementary School where she taught until starting her family in 1968. After having 2 children, she decided to teach preschool in the family home for 8 years. She went back to public education at Twin Peaks Elementary and decided to get her master’s degree in administration. Her family would tell you where she got her master’s degree, but they are true University of Utah fans and are not allowed to type those three letters. After an internship at Bacchus and Bridger Elementary schools, she became the principal of Carl Sandburg. Her next school was Crestview Elementary, and she ended her career where she started at Oakridge. After a 36 year-long career, she decided it was time to retire and spend some quality time with her husband. However, she cried for two years because she truly loved being an educator and principal. 

 One of Rosanne’s famous quotes is, “I will never ask you to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself”. She taught all elementary grades and even had a year with kindergarten in the morning and 6th grade in the afternoon. She received her ESL endorsement as a principal alongside the teachers that she asked to participate in the program. She also had an endorsement in gifted and talented and used her vast levels of knowledge to assist teachers in becoming exceptional educators. Several went on to become principals, vice principals, district administrators, and teacher coaches. Rosanne was fair but firm and truly had a gift with people young and old.

 Rosanne was also well known in the tennis community. She was on the Utah Tennis Board for several years and spent countless hours volunteering at tennis tournaments. She and her family played in tournaments locally and nationally, participated in calling lines, being ball kids, and umpiring tennis matches. She ran countless tournaments and loved volunteering for the Brighton High School Tennis Teams. She took scores at matches and ran the region and state play-in tournaments for both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Rosanne was the fun check-in lady for the Brighton youth summer tennis camps and greeted everyone as they came to tennis each day. One of her tennis claims to fame was participating on a women’s league that took second in the nation.

 Rosanne was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a beautiful testimony. She served as the Primary President, in Young Women Presidencies, and taught the laurel group of Young Women and Relief Society sisters. Not only were her lessons amazing, but her outfits and presentation always coordinated. She had a strong testimony of tithing, family history, and her Savior Jesus Christ. 

 She hated flying but loved traveling. She had fun opportunities to travel to Spain, Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and various states across the US. Rosanne and her husband made friends with the local people everywhere they went. They have many people across the world that want to call them their adopted parents. 

 Everyone remembers Rosanne for her bling. Her outfits were always matching, immaculate, and covered in sparkle and décor. She loved clothes and was even known to go an entire school year without wearing the same outfit twice. She also had the jewelry to match, and the bling literally went from head to toe. She was also known to bling up her school and conference presentations. Her graphics were unique and always had a theme to help others remember the important points she was trying to get across. She presented at many conferences and was instrumental in developing Oakridge Elementary into a Blue Ribbon School. Rosanne received the Administrator of the Year Award, the Granite District Excel Administrator Award, and nominated others who received the same award and other great honors from her schools.

 Rosanne was a wonderful lady who touched countless lives and left her mark on the world. Her family, friends, and colleagues will greatly miss her but will continue her legacy wherever they go. 

 Her family would like to extend a special thank you to the Applegate Hospice Company for their exceptional service and care in her last three weeks of life, and Cannon Mortuary for helping them feel peace in her passing.

 Rosanne is survived by husband Clark “Buck” Newell, daughter Natalie (Ron) Meyer, son Jason (Melissa) Newell, and grandchildren Adelaide “Addie”, Isabel, and Austin.

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 South). Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 11:00am at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery 3115 East 7800 South.