Joan Alice Cann (90), peacefully passed away on 30 August 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. Joan was born in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. Edward and Mrs. Helen Zimmerman. After WWII, her family settled in Miami, Florida where her father opened the first VA hospital in southeast Florida. She attended the University of Miami and the University of Florida before marrying the love of her life, William Arthur Cann, Jr. in 1954. After Bill graduated from the Naval Academy in 1954, they shared nearly 50 years of life together. Life in the Navy took them around the world, including international stops in Morocco, Puerto Rico, Guam, and all over the United States including Maryland, Maine, Georgia, Kansas, back home to Florida, and finally ending up in Virginia in 1971. All along the way she turned each place they settled into a home. A home that welcomed new family members including three sons William A. Cann, III in 1956, Robert E. Cann in 1961, and David P. Cann in 1969. That home also welcomed countless lifelong friends from the Navy. After her husbands' passing in 1999, she focused her energies into her friends and family, her Pickett Road neighborhood, her garden, her love of animals, mystery books, and her faith. She treasured spending time with her sisters Pat and Mary Jane.
She was a dedicated supporter of shelter dogs, especially beagles (adopting Charlie and Molly). She volunteered at the local library, and was active in the Catholic Church. She was the unseen roots beneath the earth that held up the family with boundless love and enduring compassion. She was the first person to call if you needed comfort from life's disappointments or to share in the joy of life's triumphs. She will be missed. She is survived by her children William (Marie), Bob (Chris), and David (Ilene), grandchildren Angela, Jenna, Megan, Ian, Natalie, and Ben, and great grandchildren Elijah and Tabitha. She was predeceased by her husband Bill and brother Eddie.
Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to the Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org), Disabled American Vets (www.dav.org), and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter).
She was a dedicated supporter of shelter dogs, especially beagles (adopting Charlie and Molly). She volunteered at the local library, and was active in the Catholic Church. She was the unseen roots beneath the earth that held up the family with boundless love and enduring compassion. She was the first person to call if you needed comfort from life's disappointments or to share in the joy of life's triumphs. She will be missed. She is survived by her children William (Marie), Bob (Chris), and David (Ilene), grandchildren Angela, Jenna, Megan, Ian, Natalie, and Ben, and great grandchildren Elijah and Tabitha. She was predeceased by her husband Bill and brother Eddie.
Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to the Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org), Disabled American Vets (www.dav.org), and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter).
Joan Alice Cann (90), peacefully passed away on 30 August 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. Joan was born in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. Edward and Mrs. Helen Zimmerman. After WWII, her family settled in Miami, Florida where her father opened the first VA hospital in southeast Florida. She attended the University of Miami and the University of Florida before marrying the love of her life, William Arthur Cann, Jr. in 1954. After Bill graduated from the Naval Academy in 1954, they shared nearly 50 years of life together. Life in the Navy took them around the world, including international stops in Morocco, Puerto Rico, Guam, and all over the United States including Maryland, Maine, Georgia, Kansas, back home to Florida, and finally ending up in Virginia in 1971. All along the way she turned each place they settled into a home. A home that welcomed new family members including three sons William A. Cann, III in 1956, Robert E. Cann in 1961, and David P. Cann in 1969. That home also welcomed countless lifelong friends from the Navy. After her husbands' passing in 1999, she focused her energies into her friends and family, her Pickett Road neighborhood, her garden, her love of animals, mystery books, and her faith. She treasured spending time with her sisters Pat and Mary Jane.
She was a dedicated supporter of shelter dogs, especially beagles (adopting Charlie and Molly). She volunteered at the local library, and was active in the Catholic Church. She was the unseen roots beneath the earth that held up the family with boundless love and enduring compassion. She was the first person to call if you needed comfort from life's disappointments or to share in the joy of life's triumphs. She will be missed. She is survived by her children William (Marie), Bob (Chris), and David (Ilene), grandchildren Angela, Jenna, Megan, Ian, Natalie, and Ben, and great grandchildren Elijah and Tabitha. She was predeceased by her husband Bill and brother Eddie.
Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to the Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org), Disabled American Vets (www.dav.org), and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter).
She was a dedicated supporter of shelter dogs, especially beagles (adopting Charlie and Molly). She volunteered at the local library, and was active in the Catholic Church. She was the unseen roots beneath the earth that held up the family with boundless love and enduring compassion. She was the first person to call if you needed comfort from life's disappointments or to share in the joy of life's triumphs. She will be missed. She is survived by her children William (Marie), Bob (Chris), and David (Ilene), grandchildren Angela, Jenna, Megan, Ian, Natalie, and Ben, and great grandchildren Elijah and Tabitha. She was predeceased by her husband Bill and brother Eddie.
Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to the Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org), Disabled American Vets (www.dav.org), and the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter).
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