Mary Rita Canan

Mary “Rita” Canan, age 89, a resident of the Mayflower Retirement Community in Winter Park, FL passed away on September 5, 2014, as a result of congestive heart failure. She was born Mary Rita Kershaw in Covington, Kentucky on February 2, 1925, as the daughter of Byrda Mae Graham and Charles Mackey Kershaw. The family moved to Miami, FL in 1934. She graduated from Miami Edison High School. Rita was predeceased by her husband, Christopher Michael Canan (Colonel, retired - USMC), and is survived by four of her five children – Penelope Canan of Lake Mary, FL;; Stephen Canan of Sebring, FL; Patrick Canan of St. Augustine, FL; and Rita Therese Canan of Winter Park, FL. Her son Christopher Canan, Jr. of New Orleans, LA recently passed away. Rita is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Rita was married on August 22, 1945 to 1st Lt. Christopher Michael Canan (USMC) in Miami, FL. As the wife of a military officer who served during World War II, and the Korean War, the family lived in various locations, including Florida, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Virginia, and Massachusetts. After retirement from the military in 1969, the Canan’s lived in Clearwater, FL; Melbourne, FL; and Winter Park, FL. While residing in Clearwater, FL, Rita and her husband were owners of the Canan Enterprises and Real Estate School. Rita was co-founder and served as President of the Island Estates Woman’s Club. Rita served on the Clearwater Public Beautification Committee. She was a member of the St. Brendan’s Building Committee, and served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Brendan’s. While residing in Melbourne, FL, the Canans lived in the Baytree development, and Rita was active as a liturgy reader at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community in Viera, FL. The Canans moved to The Mayflower Retirement Community in Winter Park, FL in August 2012. Arrangements were provided by Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home and Mary Rita Canan will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, VA with her husband on November 17. 2014.