William Thomas Canan, age 14, passed away at home surrounded by his parents, sister, maternal and paternal grandparents on Thursday, October 11, 2012.  He valiantly battled brain cancer for over eight years.

Will was born February 19, 1998 in Rochester to Tom and Elizabeth Canan.  Will attended St. Francis School from pre-school through 8 ^th grade. A goal of Will's was to start his freshman year at Lourdes High School in August.  While only able to attend for two days, Will accomplished his goal.  Will was passionate about the game of baseball and played for seven summer/fall seasons in Rochester Youth Baseball. He was a devoted fan of the Minnesota Twins, Green Bay Packers and University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.  Will was a whiz at constructing things out of Legos as a child and enjoyed playing video games on his iPad.  He also loved spending time at his grandparents' cabin in Colorado and at his aunt and uncle's house on Lake Wissota in Wisconsin.  He was a member of Cub Scout Pack 186 and won several trophies and awards racing his Pinewood Derby cars and for selling popcorn.  He also enjoyed playing golf and won the Junior Kids Cup tournament in his age group several times, despite competing while undergoing cancer treatment.

Will was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor in 2004.  His cancer journey was long and difficult yet he never complained.  His kindness and concern for others, his determination, courage, honesty and sense of humor won the hearts of all who knew him. He received wonderful care at Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center in New York City, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. His illness made wonderful experiences possible including a Make-a-Wish Trip to Disney World, a fishing trip to Alaska, Camp Sunshine with 40 other brain tumor families, Minnesota Twins Spring Training, Camp Firefly, opportunities to meet some Twins, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox players, a trip with Dad to watch the Packers win the Super Bowl in Dallas, TX, and a trip to Montana with Mom to Camp Big Sky Kids in June, 2012.   He will be dearly missed, but we know he has joined God's team in Heaven as the new starting shortstop.

Will is survived by his parents, his sister Katherine, a junior at Lourdes High School, his maternal grandparents Joe and Pat Levy of Lawrence, KS and paternal grandparents Mike and Jean Canan of LaCrosse, WI, four aunts and uncles, eleven cousins, and best friend Joey Viggiano.

In lieu of flowers, memorials for Will may be made to:  St. Francis of Assisi School in Rochester, Camp Sunshine in Casco, ME, Rochester Youth Baseball, Brains Together for a Cure in Rochester, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

A funeral Mass to celebrate and honor Will's life will be held at 2pm on Monday, October 15, 2012 at St. John's Catholic Church officiated by Rev. Mark McNea and Rev. Thomas Loomis.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2012 from 4 pm to 7pm in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home.  Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.   A reception will be held in the St. John's School gymnasium following the service.

Macken Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and online Condolence are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com