CSB Reverend Wilfred Steidel Canning

Reverend Wilfred Steidel Canning, CSB, died peacefully on November 19, 2025, at St. Dominic Village. He was 98 years old and had been a member of the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) for 79 years and a priest for 70 years.

Father Canning was born in Houston, Texas on July 1, 1927, the son of Wilfred Canning, Sr. and Elizabeth Bickley. He received his early education at St. Thomas High School, graduating early in 1945. He entered St. Basil Novitiate and made his first profession in 1946. He received a B.A. degree from Assumption College in Windsor, Ontario, in 1950. In 1955, he was ordained a priest and received the STB degree from the University of St. Michael College. He furthered his education with an M.A. at U.T. Austin in 1964; and an Ed.D. from East Texas University in educational communications and technology in 1977.

Father Canning's primary ministry was in education in the US and Canada. Twenty-one years were at St. Thomas High School. Throughout his life, Father Canning had a continuing interest in justice, peace and conflict resolution issues. In 1984 he was a guest researcher at the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo Norway, and he was also president of Pax Christi Canada (1991-1992). In 2003, Fr. Wilf retired from active ministry, and since 2019 was a resident at St. Dominic Village. St. Dominic Village, and Houston Hospice are thanked for their care for him.

Fr. Canning was predeceased by his parents, his sister Lillian, and brother Gary. He is mourned by his two nieces: Colleen Weimert and Gary Lynn McGinty, and the Basilian Fathers.

Gifts in his memory can be made to St. Dominic Village.

Visitation for Fr. Canning will be at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Rd. in Houston, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 9am, followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 10am.