Joan Elizabeth Canan

CANAN

JOAN ELIZABETH CANAN

Passed away peacefully on December 8, 2023. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Michael; and two sons, John and Joseph of Falls Church, VA; her sisters, Kathleen Normyle of Hilton Head Island, Eileen Gordon (Hugh) of Atlanta and Mary Ward (George) of Hilton Head. She was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Joan had a productive life. She worked in a supporting capacity at the White House for five years where her duties included replicating president Reagan's signature on presidential memorabilia and as a secretary for the Diocese of Arlington's Office of Family Life and the Arlington Catholic Herald for 16 years. She worked at Dog Paws and Cat Claws, Jos. A. Bank and Giant Food.

As a member of her community swim team, where she won numerous trophies, Joan understood the value of youth participation in organized sports and passed this along to her children who excelled on swim teams, the lacrosse field and cross country. Joan was guided by her faith. She was a parishioner at St. Phillip Catholic Church in Falls Church. She enjoyed helping out and bringing her boys to the Fall Festival. She also enjoyed working on craft projects at the church.

Joan was active at the Stroke Comeback Center in Vienna, VA where she enjoyed giving help to others and receiving help in recovering from a 2019 stroke. Joan touched many lives and will be missed by all who knew her. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Phillips Catholic Church, 7500 St Phillips Ct., Falls Church, VA 22042, on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11 a.m.