Sister Sara Ann Cannon, CSJ, 86

Sister Sara Ann Cannon, CSJ, 86, died Nov. 25 at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 66 years.

Sister Sara was born in Troy on Sept. 17, 1934, daughter of the late J. Howard and Margaret Riely Cannon. After graduating from Catholic Central High School, she worked for a year at the New York State Department of Education in Albany. On March 19, 1954, Sister Sara entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.

Sister Sara received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in Spanish from Middlebury College and pursued post-graduate studies at Andover Newton Theological School. In addition, Sister Sara completed the program at The Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies at Rutgers University to prepare for certification as a credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor.

Sister Sara taught for 24 years in schools of the Albany and Syracuse dioceses and was an instructor in Spanish at The College of Saint Rose. After completing her certification in substance abuse counseling, Sister Sara served as a bilingual alcoholism counselor at St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam and Leonard Hospital in Troy. She also served as a pastoral associate at St. Mary’s Parish in Little Falls; the Spanish Center in Amsterdam; Holy Cross Parish in Indiantown, Fla.; and St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach, Fla. For the last five years of Sister Sara’s active ministry, she volunteered at El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center in Jupiter, Fla., and St. Ann Place in West Palm Beach, Fla. In 2013, Sister Sara retired to St. Joseph’s Provincial House.

Sister Sara is survived by her beloved sister, Sally Dorn, of Niskayuna; her sister-in-law, Beverly Cannon, of Wilmington, Del.; 17 nieces and nephews and their families; many friends across the country; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In addition to her parents, Sister Sara was predeceased by her brothers: Jack, Joe, Father Bill and Paul Cannon; by her sister, Joan O’Hearn; by her brothers-in-law, Bill O’Hearn and Roger Dorn; and by her sisters-in-law, Janet and Olga Cannon.

Due to the continued health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no public visitation or funeral services for Sister Sara at this time. A Memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date.