Felicito Antonio Canales

Felicito Antonio Canales, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was born on May 2, 1965 in Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador, and died April 19, 2017. Survived by his son Jaimie Canales and daughter Hayley Canales and their mother Annetta Jo Canales, sister Blanca Canales and brothers Juan Canales and Santiago Canales, his Goddaughter/niece Colette Canales, nephews Yoni Canales, Oscar Canales, Wilmer Canales, Ronni Canales and niece Sugey Villatoro. Tony was preceded in death by his mother Maria Canales and his daughter Serena Jo Canales.

Tony emigrated from his native El Salvador to the USA in the 1980’s seeking political asylum in order to escape the violence of civil war in his country. He settled in Louisiana and started a business, had a family and led a productive, peaceful life.

Tony was a humble man and a hard worker who built his roofing business from the ground up. He was a trusted contractor who was known to be honest and fair.

Though his business was small, his heart was large. Once, he saw a news report about an elderly woman who had been scammed by unscrupulous men posing as roofers. He took action by calling the news station to offer his labor and materials. He replaced that roof at no charge to the client but considerable expense to himself, because he thought it was the right thing to do.

That’s the kind of man he was. Quiet, unassuming, hardworking, and generous.

On Wednesday, April 19th, Tony died an Accidental Hero. Walking home from a convenience store just across a field from his house, he interrupted a crime in progress and was described by police as a “true victim.” A woman, who was being assaulted by several men, was able to run from her attackers and call the police. They took Tony’s life instead.

Such an ironic tragedy that Tony fled the violence of his homeland to fall victim to gun violence in his adopted country.

Visitation is Sunday, April 23, 2017 from 4:00pm-9:00pm and Monday, April 24, 2017 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Funeral Service will be at 2:00pm. Tony will be interred beside his baby daughter, Serena Jo at Greenoaks Cemetery following the service.