Thomas William Canary Jr.

Thomas William Canary Jr., 82, of Roanoke, Va., resides now in heaven. He passed away on Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2009. Tom served in the United States Navy during World War II. After his honorable discharge, he was trained as a watchmaker and was employed with Henebry's Jewelers for 38 years. He managed the Salem store for nine years and the downtown Roanoke store for 21 years. Tom then managed Fink's Jewelers downtown location for 12 years, retiring in 1992. He then drove for the Virginia Division of the Visually Handicapped from 1993 to 2002.

Tom was a past President of the Virginia Jewelers Association, and was a 1981 recipient of the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He served on the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce; the Better Business Bureau of Western Virginia; Downtown Roanoke, Inc.; Rotary Club of Roanoke; Saint Vincent's Boys Home; Roanoke Valley Junior Miss, Inc.; Roanoke Catholic Schools; and Saint Andrew's Diocesan Cemetery.

Tom was a regular swimmer at the Downtown YMCA for many years, achieving membership in the 1000 mile swimmers club.

He was a longtime member of both Saint Andrew's Catholic Church and Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church, serving on the OLN Building and Finance Committee, School PTA, and as a Eucharistic Minister. He served as co-chairman and organizer of Roanoke Catholic Schools first annual Carousel.

Tom's family appreciates the loving care given by so many from Lewis-Gale Hospital, Generation Solutions, The Court at Roanoke, and Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas William Canary Sr. and Helen L. Sterne Canary; and a sister, Mary Louise Canary.

Loving survivors include his wife of 56 years, Rita H. Canary; six daughters and sons-in-law, Constance Marie and Steven Rice, of Richmond, Cathryn Anne and Keith Stewart, of Silver Spring, Md., Susan Elizabeth and Marc Muller, of Dallas, Texas, Cynthia Bernadette and Mark Layman, of Salem, Carol Rita and Peter Jessee, of Roanoke, and Maria Helen and Joseph Maltby, of Richmond; a son and daughterin-law, Michael Anthony and Cynthia Canary, of Rockville, Md.; 15 grandchildren, Zachary, Kasey, Kevin, Brandon, Kristen, Jessica, Adam, Paige, Morgan, Grant, Emily, Maria, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Mary Catherine; three sisters, Sister Dorothy Canary, MMS, of Meadowbrook, Pa., Helen Rowe and husband James, of Roanoke, and Sister Anna Marie Canary, SCN, of Nazareth, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009, from Saint Andrew's Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Thomas G. Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Saint Andrew's Diocesan Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2009, from Oakey's Roanoke Chapel with a Catholic Prayer Service taking place at approximately 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Saint Andrew's Catholic Church, 631 North Jefferson Street, Roanoke, Va. 24016.