William “Bill” Canavan Obituary

William (Bill) Jerome Canavan, age 80, and long-time resident of Heath, TX, passed away on March 17, 2020. He was born September 27, 1939, in Chicago, IL, to Thomas P. Canavan and Madonna F. (Hills) Canavan. He will be deeply missed by everyone who loved him.

The fighting Irishman, Bill.

A Pepsi Cola toast…Born when World War II started, my dad never met a match he wasn’t ready for. If you had an opinion, he had an argument. He fought his whole life. He fought through poverty, through a marriage spanning nearly 60 years, he fought through raising his family…he fought the hardest here. He fought to make sure we all lived up to our potential and appreciated the luxuries we were afforded. Family was how he measured his wealth, and they were his greatest treasure. He fought as much as he loved and that was a lot.

Fighting and working go hand in hand for Bill or “Grandpa” as he’s known more affectionately now. Function not aesthetics was his passion. From mortar to glass, doors and anything around the house, if it needed work Bill was your guy. He was the manliest man you had ever met. He would give anyone the shirt off his back. He had a special place for children and you could come discuss politics or history at the kitchen table any day. Saint Patrick’s Day is so fitting for his departure here.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 59 years: Nancy Canavan; children: John Canavan (Rita), Bill Canavan (Lynn), Nora Minor (Morris), Peggy Gee (James), and Kathleen Leahy (Brad); grandchildren: Kathryn, Patrick, Matthew (Alyssa), Samantha, Jennifer, Jessica, Jake, Travis (Laurin), Natalie, Steven, Amber (Philip), Scotty, William Dane, Ryan, and Gwyn; great-grandchildren: Liam, June, and Clayton; sisters: Rita Cecich (Bob), and Donna Canavan; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Mary Darcy, Patricia Burrows, and Peggy Cahill; and brothers: Jim Canavan, and Tom Canavan.

A private graveside service will be held at Rest Haven Memorial Park.