Bethany Amber (Liddell) Kanach passed on Monday, September 6, 2021 after a long battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Bethany Amber Liddell was born on March 6, 1981 in Stoneham Massachusetts and grew up in Hillsborough New Jersey, graduating from Hillsborough High School in 1999. Bethany was born a teacher. As a child she would arrange her many stuffed animals into a classroom setting and spend hours teaching them or reading to the class. Mrs. Kanach’s love of history grew during her high school years. She grew to be an avid reader and talented crafter.
Bethany spent her early college years at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg PA, then Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, finally settling in at Central Connecticut State University where she graduated with a Bachelors in Science in Education. Like the story of the Three Bears – CCSU wasn’t too small, wasn’t too big – it was just right!
She could have easily have had a second career as a Disney Tour Guide! She knew the park like it was her own house, whether behind the scenes or Main Street. She knew what everyone else knew but so much more. Bethany passed the year in accordance with the Disney calendar, i.e. the Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival, and the highlights were Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween and the Candlelight Procession during Disney Christmas. One of her lifetime’s highlights was going on the Christmas Disney Cruise in 2017 with family. Bethany was a Hogwarts Hufflepuff of the highest order. As such, she valued hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty and fair play. She had a strong moral code and sense of right and wrong, and was accepting of everyone.
It was on summer break in 2003 that she met John Kanach Jr – the love of her life – while Bethany worked at a daycare in town. In one of life’s remarkable coincidences, John just happened to be visiting his godson at the daycare one afternoon. Following a courtship, they married on June 24, 2006. John and Bethany established their home in Lutz Florida where the family resides to this day. The fruits of their love are Annabelle Angela Kanach age 11, and Nathaniel (Nate) Lee Kanach age 5.
Mrs. Kanach’s professional career took root at Horizon Charter School of Tampa where she began her tenure as a Social Studies teacher. Among her accomplishments in that roll, Bethany twice received the Florida High Impact Teacher Award from the State of Florida for her class’s performance on Florida’s Standardized Test. Bethany soon earned additional responsibilities at Horizon Charter School, becoming Lead Teacher where she gained the opportunity to mentor other teachers. Eventually, she took on the role of Administrative Resource Teacher - the roll she held at her passing.
In addition to her immediate family: John, Annabelle and Nate, Bethany is survived by her parents – Ken and Angela (Niemi) Liddell; In-Laws – John and Stephanie Kanach;
Mother-in-Law Debbie Kanach; Predeceased by brother-in-law Kristofer Lee Kanach;
Bethany’s brother and his family – Jared and Stephanie Liddell and children Ty, Paige and Piper; Aunts/Uncles – Paul and Patrice Niemi, Bob and Jill Liddell, John and Joan Liddell,
Tom Cummings, Bill and Nancy Kanach, Sue and Mike Thomas;
Cousins – Matthew and Melissa Niemi and Nick Niemi; Danielle Liddell, Jordan Liddell, Robyn Cummings, Lindsey Cummings (predeceased), Tim and Brittany Liddell, Cristopher and Alex Niemi.
Services for Bethany will be held on Sunday, September 19 at Serenity Gardens,
13401 Indian Rocks Roads in Largo, FL. Viewing will commence at 10:00 am, a Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 am. Following the services, family and friends are invited to the Holiday Inn Harbourside, 401 2nd Street, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 for a reception to celebrate Bethany’s life.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.serenityfuneralhomelargo.com for the Kanach family.
