Hermitage, PA - Janet Gosnell, 89, of Hermitage, formerly of Greenville, passed away on April 10, 2026, at St Paul's Senior Living Center in Greenville, not much more than a mile from the home on Evergreen Drive where she raised her children for many years.

Janet was born on Nov. 30, 1936, as Janet Ruth Macfarlane, daughter of a hardworking bricklayer, Stuart Charles Macfarlane of Oil City, and a loving mother, Helen May Macfarlane of Franklin. Janet graduated from Franklin High School in 1954 and then studied secretarial sciences at Grove City College in 1954-55, where she was also a member of Delta Omega Rho Sorority.

During her high school years, Janet and her sister Kay were members of the Baton Twirling Foundation and won several awards both locally and nationally. Janet was crowned Miss Tri-State Majorette in 1952, and is featured along with her sister in the Selmer-Clark Baton Twirling Hall of Fame.

In 1955, Janet was employed by Joy Manufacturing Co. in Franklin as secretary to the manufacturing manager. Then, in 1958, she accepted employment as a stewardess with Eastern Airlines, receiving training in Miami Springs, Fla. During a lengthy airline strike, she accepted employment at U.S. Steel's Corporate Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., as Executive Secretary to the General Manager of Sales.

In 1962, Janet married Michael Richard McKenna, from New Martinsville, W.Va., and they began their lives together in Pittsburgh.

In May of 1963, she gave birth to Michael Stuart McKenna. Soon thereafter, in January of 1966, Janet gave birth to Ann Margaret McKenna.

Tragically, in December of 1968, her husband Michael died of leukemia at the age of only 36 years old. Rather than crumble under the pressure of raising two young children as a single mother, Janet made it her life's mission to raise her children in a safe and loving home, and provide them the opportunity to live meaningful lives of their own.

So she returned to her childhood home in Franklin. For seven happy years she lived in a small home on Big Oak Drive with Ann and Michael, where her parents, known to her children as Mimmi and Poppy, offered their boundless love and support. During that time, she attended Clarion University and studied English Literature.

In 1975, Janet married Kenneth Gosnell of Greenville. He was employed as an insurance agent for State Farm. Ken was a kind man and a devout Christian and Janet knew he would treat her children well. Janet lived for many happy years in Greenville with her and Ken's children, Jane and Tom Gosnell.

During her years in Greenville, Janet worked for a time in the Registrar's office at Thiel College. She also did volunteer work for the Greenville Hospital, and was an active member of the Greenville Country Club. In the late eighties, Janet moved to Greensburg when Ken took a job there. During those years, she worked as the Office Manager and Executive Secretary to the President and CEO of Life Services Systems.

Janet returned to the Greenville area upon Ken's retirement, settling in Hermitage. This was to be near her daughter Ann Wiles, her son-in-law Randy Wiles, and her grandchildren, Ryan Wiles, born in July of 1993, and Rachel Wiles, born in January of 1995.

Janet spent many happy years known affectionately as Nana to Ryan and Rachel. She cherished being so close to them and was grateful that she was able to play a part in raising them up to be the kind and wonderful people they now are.

In May of 2002, Janet earned her associate's degree in Liberal Arts from Pennsylvania State University, a distinction that meant a great deal to her. She had sacrificed and saved to help put her own children through college, but always emphasized how much a degree in higher education meant to her, too.

In 2006, her husband of 31 years, Ken, died unexpectedly of a stroke. After his passing, Janet often traveled to visit her son Michael, who eventually settled in Tucson, Ariz., with his wife Danielle Steffey.

Her grandson Coen Steffey McKenna was born in May of 2011. She often spent days reading to him or playing Lego with him during her many visits. In later years, Janet was fortunate to become a great-grandmother to Ashton Wiles, born in August of 2018, and Chloe Wiles, born in December of 2025, the son and daughter of her grandson Ryan and his wife Kelsey. She also had the joy of getting to know her granddaughter Rachel's husband Joe McDaniel.

Following her husband Ken's death, Janet lived alone and remained in their condominium on Stone Ridge Boulevard in Hermitage. She enjoyed the company of many neighbors in her condominium association. Eventually, the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's became too much. In 2024, she moved to the Ridgewood at Shenango Adult Living Facility and remained there until 2025. When her condition worsened, she moved to the memory care facility at St. Paul's Senior Living Center.

Her family will remain forever grateful for the care and kindness given to her by all the caregivers at both those facilities. Janet was especially fortunate that in the latter years of her life, as her mind slowly faded, her daughter Ann, with the love and support of her husband Randy, selflessly gave all she could to see her mother through to her last days.

Janet enjoyed attending live theater, playing tennis and golf, skiing, reading, and playing bridge. She spent many wonderful vacations skiing with her family, or instead sharing a beach house and lounging in the sun.

But she was just as happy to have her family with her at home, especially for the holidays. Christmas was a special time for her, and so it was for all of her family. Janet lived a life rich in friendships, including her girlfriends from high school, who jokingly referred to their crew as the Sexy Eight. She remained in touch with them all of her life, especially Theresa Russell.

Of the many lessons she taught her own children is the great joy and strength that comes from investing in and loving one's friends. Janet's love of all of her extended family was at the center of her life.

She remained very close with her sister Kay until her passing in 2023, and Kay's husband Frank Matter, as well as their children, Mary, Laura, and Beth Matter. Janet had a special connection with Beth, who often visited Janet in her later years. It is fair to say that Janet thought of Beth more like a daughter. Despite his death so many years ago, Janet also remained in contact with her husband Michael's sisters Katy Bohrer and Pat Marrow of New Martinsville, W.Va., as well as their children, Kerry, Barry, and Sherry Bohrer; and Tom and Debbie Morrow.

Janet was a devout Christian who was an active member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville. After her husband Ken passed, she did not regularly attend church services. Nevertheless, she remained firm in her faith, praying every morning and every evening.

Janet treated all people with kindness and respect, always trying to find the best in them and forgiving them their worst.

She truly lived the Christian invocation to love thy neighbor. She showed it with every person she countenanced, no matter how minor the exchange. She even showed it to those who treated her poorly.

Worried that she was lonely living by herself long after Ken had died, her son once asked her if she wanted to find a husband, someone to share her remaining days with. She told him that she was never lonely, that she talked to both her husbands nearly every night, and that she would keep her love for them forever. Besides, she explained, in all her life she had never been lonely. God was always with her.

Following funeral services in Greenville, her family will carry her away to New Martinsville, W.Va., where she will be laid to rest near the banks of the Ohio River, next to her husband Michael. It will be long overdue. He has been waiting for her there since 1968.

It is Janet's unshakable conviction that she will spend eternity in heaven with him, and she will be welcomed by all the family and friends who went before her.

While the years pass, her children Ann and Michael will carry Janet Ruth Macfarlane McKenna Gosnell with them in all that they say and do, and especially in all the ways they treat others. They will live well, as she taught them to live, with joy and love and strength-as well as a healthy dose of good humor.

In lieu of flowers, and following Janet's wishes, the family asks for donations in Janet's honor to the Leukemia Society of America.

GOSNELL

Janet, 89, of Hermitage and Greenville.

Calling hours: 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday (4-15-26) JOHN FLYNN FUNERAL HOME, 2630 E. State St., Hermitage.

Funeral service: 11 a.m. Thursday (4-16-26) at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville.

Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on Janet's memorial page, at: www.flynnfuneralhome.com.