She was born on November 25, 1938 in London, England, to James and Mary Kennedy of County Waterford, Ireland. Mary was a woman of remarkable determination, intelligence, and faith.
Mary's childhood in London included the hardships of World War II, with food rationing and nights spent in shelters during the German bombings. After the war, her family returned to Ireland and settled in the village of Ballymacarbry. In the 1950s the family immigrated to Toronto, then to Brooklyn, New York, before making their way to Jacksonville in 1965.
Mary was always gifted with numbers and a meticulous record keeper, talents that carried her through a successful career in accounting and finance. She was part owner and financial officer of a construction company specializing in commercial interiors, a role few women held at the time. She also owned several rental properties, buying, improving, and managing real estate decades before house flipping became popular. Later in her career she worked in the audit departments of Barnett Bank and Bank of America.
A devoted Catholic, Mary was a founding member of San Juan del Rio Catholic Church, having first attended when Mass was celebrated at Marywood. She helped build both the original church, now the administration building, and the current church. She was an active member of the 50 Plus Club and a longtime volunteer at the Mandarin Food Bank. She loved to travel and enjoyed decorating and improvement projects around her home.
Mary is survived by her sons, Bruce Canaday (Cheryl) and Jeffrey Canaday (Kim); grandchildren Brandon, Ryan, Peyton, Matthew, John Paul, and Haleigh; great-grandson James; sister Anne and nephew Kevin. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Joe Canaday, Carey Bowden, and Arthur Nissen.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at San Juan del Rio Catholic Church. Graveside interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, with a reception at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Mandarin Food Bank.
