Mary Jo Cannarella

Mary Jo was born on November 20, 1936, in Terrell, Texas, the eldest of 5 children of Homer and Agnes Glynn Hagius. She grew up in small towns of the Rocky Mountains, moving frequently due to her father's job as a petroleum engineer. Mary Jo entered Holy Cross School of Nursing in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the age of 17. She met her husband Joe in Colorado Springs and the couple was married in 1957. The Cannarellas settled in Middletown, Connecticut, and Mary Jo pursued a Bachelors Degree from the University of Connecticut, graduating Summa Cum Laude, while raising two small children. She went on to pursue a Master of Science in psychiatric nursing from Yale University. After the family relocated to Nashua, New Hampshire in the 1970s Mary Jo joined the faculty of Concord Hospital School of Nursing where she enjoyed teaching the next generation of nurses until her retirement in 1999. Mary Jo was deeply committed to social justice. She was a dedicated volunteer and grass-roots political organizer for local, state, and national political campaigns. After retiring from nursing, Mary Jo turned her love for cats into a business venture. She and Joe established the Candee Apples Siamese Cattery and became well known for the “candy apple” variety.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joe, her son, Ronald J. Cannarella; her daughter, Catherine Cannarella Haines and son-in law Eric Haines, by her grandsons Ryan and Evan Haines. She is survived by her brother, Hugh Hagius of New York, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers Fred and John Thomas Hagius, and sister Lynn Hagius.

A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in The Villages, Florida on Friday, April 11 at 8:30 AM. A hosted celebration of life will follow at the Dignity Memorial Life Celebration Center, 7134 Powell Rd, Wildwood FL 34785. Burial will take place at 12:30 PM at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. The Mass will be live-streamed and archived on St Timothy’s YouTube channel at @st.timothycatholicchurchla9589

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Doctors Without Borders at https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org