I t is with a heavy heart that I inform you that
Rosemarie Vischansky Keener
has left this earth to be with her Lord
at the young age of 60 years old.

Rosemarie Vischansky Keener died on Friday, May 19th of 2023 after an exhausting battle with uterine cancer. She leaves behind her loving husband of nearly 28 years J. A. "Art" Keener II and her two adoring dogs, Xander & Emma. She is also survived by an extensive biological family that she just became aware of a couple of years ago. They consist of a brother Danny Roper and wife Carolyn of Smithfield, VA; a brother Dale Roper and his wife Anne of Virginia Beach, VA; a sister Joyce Ballard and her husband Harry of Carrollton, VA; a sister Donna Lawson of Virginia Beach, VA; a brother Rob Roper and his wife Joyce of Annapolis, MD; an Uncle Ronnie Anglin and Aunt Pauletta of Virginia Beach, VA; along with numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great-great nephews and great-great nieces. She also dearly loved her three godchildren; Patrick Gunnell and his wife Sichelle of Carolina Shores, NC as well as Ryan Skutans and his sister Lauren Skutans, both of Williamsburg, VA.

Rosemarie was the adopted daughter of Wesley Vischansky and Georgia Lucy Clark Vischanscky who predeceased her. She was born in and resided in Newport News, VA until her first and only marriage in 1995 when she moved to Lanexa, VA in Chickahominy Haven. She graduated high school from Denbigh High School in 1980, she attended Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA and she graduated Cum Laude from Christopher Newport College (now University) in 1984. She was a Program Manager at Newport News Shipbuilding in the New Construction – Carriers department at the time of her death.

Rosemarie loved her dogs, and they loved her. Her standard poodle, Xander was her "Baby Baby", and she loved him dearly. Xander was her 65 pound lap dog. Emma, the bird dog, while not a lap dog was equally as loving though in her own way. Her husband always said that any dog that got her as an owner was a very lucky animal!

Rosemarie loved to travel! Her trip to Kenya and Tanzania fulfilled her lifelong dream to see Africa and many of its beautiful creatures. Italy was where she found peace in its ethereal beauty – in the art, in the architecture, the food and wine, and in the natural wonder of its nature. She also loved anywhere that had crystal blue/green waters. The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, all of these held a special place for her. On her honeymoon she learned that she loved to snorkel, and did it everywhere that she could see the coral and the fish. On a night snorkel in Kona, Hawaii she was blessed to have an adult manta ray do a barrel roll inches in front of her, one of her biggest highlights of her snorkeling trips.

Rosemarie loved being on and around the water, and living in Chickahominy Haven was a blessing in that respect. With a 27 foot pontoon boat in the backyard, the river was her playground. Both of the dogs loved it too, as they loved to go swimming whenever they could. All she had to do was open the drawer where she kept her bathing suits and the dogs knew what was next! She loved paddleboarding on the river as well, along with just sitting in a float with a tasty beverage of her choice in her hand. She had met many people that we would meet up with at numerous locations out on the river. We have met some of the nicest people out on the river, some of which have become like family. She also loved the beautiful sunsets that we often saw on the river, some of the most colorful that you could ever see.

Many thanks to the doctors and staff at UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, they did the very best that could be done and were some of the most caring medical personnel that she could have ever had.

As per her wishes, no services are going to be held and a "Celebration of Life" will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, or any charity of your own choice.

And remember, the next time that you see a gorgeous sunset anywhere, rest assured that Rosemarie is probably admiring it too.