Jany Conrath
October 03, 1927 - March 30, 2023
Obituary
MADISON / SUN PRAIRIE - On March 30, 2023, Jany S. Conrath passed away at the age of 95. Jany was born on Oct. 3, 1927, in Brussels, Belgium. She had a very happy childhood. In her early years Jany learned to speak French and Flemish, the national languages of Belgium. Her father, a British citizen, only spoke English to her to provide English lessons for her.
As a child, Jany studied dance at a local dance studio, and in high school she studied office management skills. During her high school years (1940-1944) Jany and her mom endured living under German military occupation. Jany’s mom was interned for two years since she was married to a British citizen. Jany’s dad fled back to England during this time. Subsequently, Jany went to live with her grandparents in Hoeilaart, Belgium. When Belgium was liberated by the British forces in 1944, Jany began working at a U.S. Army warehousing facility as a clerk. She was hired due to her fluency in multiple languages. She worked there until the warehousing facility was moved to Germany. Jany was then hired by the American Embassy in Brussels and worked as a secretary. It was there that she met her future husband, Ernst Conrath, a junior Foreign Service Officer.
They fell in love and were married on April 6, 1954, in Milwaukee, Wis. For the next 33 years they were assigned to a variety of Foreign Service posts which included Saudi Arabia, Finland, Austria, Africa, Department of State in Washington D.C., Poland and Turkey. They truly enjoyed exploring new places and established lifelong friendships along the way.
Daughters, Cynthia Carol and Audrey Ann were born in Saudi Arabia. They attended schools in some of the posts and learned to speak the local languages.
Jany and Ernie moved to Sun Prairie in 1980. In retirement, Jany enjoyed ballroom dancing, swimming, bird watching, gardening, traveling and shopping. She also loved taking care of her cats throughout the years.
Jany was a loving mother, wife and a great friend.
Jany is preceded in death by her parents, Allen Alexander Shaw and Maria Rowies Shaw. She is survived by her husband, Ernst Conrath; and daughters, Cynthia Conrath and Audrey (Bill) Conrath-Monson.
Special thanks to Jany’s Agrace HospiceCare team for their support and compassionate care that she received.
Online condolences may be made at www. gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420