Rev. Walter F. Cannan
Deceased: 2007-06-21
Diocese: SYRACUSE
Seminary Graduation Year: 1969
Rev. Walter F. Cannan, 64, Pastor of St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church in Oriskany, died June 21, 2007, following a long illness. Rev. Cannan was born in Lowville, NY, on January 20, 1943, and graduated from St. Aloysius Academy High School in Rome. He attended St. Andrew’s Seminary and St. Bernard’s Seminary, in Rochester, NY, prior to graduating from the North American Pontifical College in Rome, Italy. Rev. Cannan was ordained at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, on December 20, 1968. Upon his return to the Syracuse Diocese, Rev. Cannan was an assistant pastor at St. Francis DeSales in Utica, St. Anthony’s in Cortland, Most Holy Rosary Church in Syracuse, and associate pastor at St. John’s in New Hartford. After a lengthy tenure as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Syracuse, Rev. Cannan became pastor of St. Stephen’s in Oriskany in 1996. During his service in Cortland, Rev. Cannan became Director of Catholic Charities for Cortland County and stayed involved with the organization thereafter. Throughout his priesthood, Rev. Cannan was a friend for all firemen, serving as chaplain within several of the communities in which he lived. His mother, Helen Wallace Cannan, of Rome, survives Rev. Cannan, the son of the late D. Frank Cannan. Also surviving Rev. Cannan are two sisters, Patricia Stack, of Newton, NJ, and Terri Lynn Petty, of Dublin, OH; his brother, Brian Cannan, Dublin, OH; along with 13 nieces and nephews. His other sister, Elaine Maxsween, predeceased him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul’s Church, Rome, with the Most Reverend Bishop Thomas J. Costello as homilist on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. Father Walt will lie in State at St. Paul’s Church, Monday, June 25 from 4 to 7 p.m., with a Vigil Service to follow at 7 p.m. with the Reverend John F. Hogan, Jr. as the homilist. Interment will be at the Lowville Rural Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Father Walt’s memory to the Father Walt Cannan Fund of Upstate Medical Center University Foundation, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210, to help with uncovered medical expenses for pediatric oncology patients
