Barbara J. Cosner

Barbara J. Conser, 77, of Meadville, died Friday, January 21, 2005 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh.

She was born May 5, 1927 in Mahaffey, a daughter of the late Thomas R. and Marie Thompson McCracken.  She married Glenn D. Conser August 9, 1949 and he preceded her in death December 12, 1996.

She was a 1945 graduate of Mahaffey High School and a 1949 graduate of Penn State Univ. with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics.  She is a life member of the Penn State Univ. alumni Assoc.  She worked as an assistant dietician at Clearfield Hospital, and at Allegheny College for 5 years until she left to raise her family.  She later worked for 30 years as office manager for her husband in their business, Conser Petroleum, Inc. until her retirement in 1989.

She was a long-time active member of Stone United Methodist Church and member of the adult bible class.  She was a past Watchman of Shepherds in the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem.  She was 59-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and a past Worthy Matron of the Golden Crown Chapter #44.  She served as District Deputy Grand Matron of District 1-B, Order of Eastern Star, of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania in 1974.

She did volunteer work at the Wesbury Grace Nursing Center Gift Shop and at the Meadville Soup Kitchen.  She dearly loved her family and friends.

Survivors include 2 sons, Michael A. Conser and his wife Brenda of Liverpool, NY and Larry G. Conser and his wife Patricia of Meadville; a sister, Margaret Reimer of Carlisle; a sister-in-law, Jeanne McCracken of Mahaffey; 2 grandchildren, Mark Conser and Jennifer Minnick and her husband Aaron; 2 step-grandchildren, John Haubrich and his wife Erica and Todd Haubrich and his wife Jennifer; 2 great-grandchildren, Tyana and Matthew Minnick; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas G. McCracken.

Calling hours will be Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville with an Order of Eastern Star Service at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral service will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Cathy Newport, Senior Pastor and the Rev. William L. Brown, Associate Pastor of Stone United Methodist Church co-officiating.

Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335, Wesbury United Methodist Community, 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335, or Hospice of Crawford County, 448 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.