Obituary of Barbara Canney

Barbara Theresa Canney (MacDonald) Elmira: entered heaven on Thursday, January 26, 2012 surrounded by her loving family. Barb was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Gardner and Josephine MacDonald (Cunningham) and grew up with siblings Leonard, William, Mary and Alyce (Binney), graduated from Melrose High, then went to work for the telephone company and later trained as a Dental Assistant. Barb joined the U S Air Force during the Korean Conflict working as a Dental Assistant. On base in Texas she met her husband, John C. Canney, settled in Clarence, NY where they raised nine children: Karen (Bauman), Stephen, Patricia (Thomas Labert), Mary Johanna (Edward Foster), John, William (Kari Sugar), Mark (Mary Beth Zivic), Robert (Denise Vella) and Mary Elizabeth (Deceased). After raising her children Barb attended Erie Community College, and received an Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy. She retired from Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. She was devoted to the work of the Consolata Missionaries where she demonstrated commitment to her religious beliefs with active involvement in the Father's activities. At the age of 62, she was drawn to the very demanding work of helping neglected infants in Romania infected with the AIDS virus left orphaned or abandoned. Barbara loved to paint, was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling to England, Ireland, France, and climbed the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotehuacan, Mexico. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family. Barb closely followed the activities of her 19 Grandchildren, Sarah Henninger (Bauman), Rachel Bauman, Matthew Bauman, Joshua Bauman, Brianne Bauman, Bethany Bauman, Laura Labert, Caitlin Labert, Andrew Labert, John Foster, William Foster, Mary Foster, Lindsey Cerda (Canney), Megan Canney, Zachary Canney, Carina Canney, Christopher Canney, Ryan Canney, Kelsey Canney; as well as her 3 Great Grand Children Benjamin Henninger, Emily Henninger and Zachary Henninger. Friends are invited to Barbara's Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Elmira. Interment will take place in Buffalo, NY. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations are made in Barbara Theresa Canney's Honor to benefit Education for Children with Downs Syndrome: www.ndss.org The National Down Syndrome Society 666 Broadway, 8th Floor New York, NY 10012 Attn: Madeline Alemar 212-763-4360 or via email at malemar@ndss.org