Obituary of Colleen H. Canavan

Colleen Canavan, 97, of Wayne, NJ, formerly of Mountain Lakes, passed away peacefully July 4, 2024.

Born in 1926 in Idaho Falls, ID, she was the oldest of four daughters. Her dad was the Sheriff of Bonneville County, ID and her mother a bookkeeper. Colleen met the love of her life, Dave Canavan, in 1943, while he was training with the U.S. Navy in San Francisco, CA. They married in 1945 and celebrated 58 years of marriage, residing in the tri-state area before moving to Mountain Lakes, NJ for most of their lives.

Predeceased by her beloved Dave in 2003, and their children, John and Lee prior; Colleen is survived by her children, David Canavan and his wife, Barbara; Kathy McKenna; AnnD Canavan; Peter Canavan and his wife, Cheryl; and Paul Canavan. She is also survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  She was most proud of all seven children attaining their college diplomas!

Colleen had a love and immeasurable talent for turning houses into homes, entertaining, yoga, and gardening. Collecting birdhouses was a hobby and she wove them into her gardening tapestries. She loved shopping! Bloomingdales was practically her second home. Colleen also loved Broadway matinees and weekend getaways to the Plaza Hotel in NYC with Dave. She was an active member of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes and taught CCD classes there. Colleen was also active with the Mountain Lakes Women’s Club. The family‘s love of the beach started in Bridgehampton, then Beach Haven, and finally Cape Cod.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10:00am in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 10 N. Pocono Rd, Mountain Lakes, NJ. Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or Compassionate Care of Clifton, LLC, 300 Broadacres Dr, Suite 275, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.