Heather Symmes Cannon passed away peacefully on September 8, 2015, after a six-month journey with pancreatic cancer. With her characteristic constancy, Heather spent her final months hosting family and friends, completing family history projects, writing, painting, and landscaping.
Heather was born on November 21, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her father was stationed with the military. The family returned home to Chicago in 1945, then settled in Evanston, IL in 1947 where she spent her childhood with her parents William and Irene (Opal) Symmes, her older sister Holly, and her younger sister Susan. Heather's childhood was punctuated by boating, skiing, summer exploration of America's west, elaborate holiday parties, and family visits.
Upon graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1962, Heather moved to the Boston area where she would stay until 1982. During these years, she sowed the seeds of her family, her friendships, her religious identity and her professional trajectory.
Heather attended Wellesley College, graduating with a degree in political science in 1967. She married Rowland Cannon in 1965. Children soon followed as Hilary, Mason, Ethan, and Zachary joined the family. Two months after his birth, Mason died in his sleep. His loss brought lasting grief, but also introduced Heather to the Mormon faith, leading to her baptism in 1973 and a lifelong relationship with the church.
Heather's introduction to Mormonism occurred at a special time and place. She didn't join just any congregation; she joined the Cambridge Ward, and immediately became involved with the founding of Exponent II, a feminist Mormon publication dedicated to honoring early Mormon sisters and giving place for contemporary women to bring together their spiritual and feminist inclinations. These Exponent years culminated in the publication of her chapter "Practical Politicians" in Mormon Sisters (1976), and forged a set of lifelong friendships and ideals.
Heather and Rowland's marriage came to an end in 1978. While these were difficult times, she turned trial into opportunity. Despite the counsel of several intimates and advisors to consider a secretarial career, Heather followed her parents' encouragement and enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University. She received her MBA in 1981, and embarked in a career in marketing research.
Heather's professional voyage commenced with a move back to Chicago in 1982. Her career took her from an associate position to the director of marketing research, from Quaker Oats to Kraft (Chicago) to Campbell's (the Jersey side of Philadelphia) to Armstrong Flooring (Lancaster, PA) to Electrolux (Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC). Both a victim and beneficiary of her perfectionism, Heather worked long hours, travelled extensively, formed deep relations, and thrived professionally until retiring in 2012.
Heather moved to Bloomington, IN in 2013 where she has been active in Women Writing for (a) Change, and advancing her family history by writing the story of several family members.
A proud matriarch, Heather freely boasted about her children and grandchildren. In addition to her dedication to family, church, and career, Heather was passionate about reading, writing, gardening, musical performances, the Nutcracker, travel, knitting, painting, her dogs, chewy candies, Christmas, and Diet Coke.
Heather is survived by her sister Holly Heap; her children Hilary Anderson (and Doug Anderson), Ethan Cannon (and Alison Takenaka), and Zach Cannon (and Judy Lin Cannon); and her 8 grandchildren.
Join us in celebrating her life:
Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 11.
Brief Visitation: 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
All events to be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2411 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN.
Memorial contributions can be made to Exponent II (exponentii.org).
Online condolences may be made at dayderemiahfrye.com.
Heather was born on November 21, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her father was stationed with the military. The family returned home to Chicago in 1945, then settled in Evanston, IL in 1947 where she spent her childhood with her parents William and Irene (Opal) Symmes, her older sister Holly, and her younger sister Susan. Heather's childhood was punctuated by boating, skiing, summer exploration of America's west, elaborate holiday parties, and family visits.
Upon graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1962, Heather moved to the Boston area where she would stay until 1982. During these years, she sowed the seeds of her family, her friendships, her religious identity and her professional trajectory.
Heather attended Wellesley College, graduating with a degree in political science in 1967. She married Rowland Cannon in 1965. Children soon followed as Hilary, Mason, Ethan, and Zachary joined the family. Two months after his birth, Mason died in his sleep. His loss brought lasting grief, but also introduced Heather to the Mormon faith, leading to her baptism in 1973 and a lifelong relationship with the church.
Heather's introduction to Mormonism occurred at a special time and place. She didn't join just any congregation; she joined the Cambridge Ward, and immediately became involved with the founding of Exponent II, a feminist Mormon publication dedicated to honoring early Mormon sisters and giving place for contemporary women to bring together their spiritual and feminist inclinations. These Exponent years culminated in the publication of her chapter "Practical Politicians" in Mormon Sisters (1976), and forged a set of lifelong friendships and ideals.
Heather and Rowland's marriage came to an end in 1978. While these were difficult times, she turned trial into opportunity. Despite the counsel of several intimates and advisors to consider a secretarial career, Heather followed her parents' encouragement and enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University. She received her MBA in 1981, and embarked in a career in marketing research.
Heather's professional voyage commenced with a move back to Chicago in 1982. Her career took her from an associate position to the director of marketing research, from Quaker Oats to Kraft (Chicago) to Campbell's (the Jersey side of Philadelphia) to Armstrong Flooring (Lancaster, PA) to Electrolux (Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC). Both a victim and beneficiary of her perfectionism, Heather worked long hours, travelled extensively, formed deep relations, and thrived professionally until retiring in 2012.
Heather moved to Bloomington, IN in 2013 where she has been active in Women Writing for (a) Change, and advancing her family history by writing the story of several family members.
A proud matriarch, Heather freely boasted about her children and grandchildren. In addition to her dedication to family, church, and career, Heather was passionate about reading, writing, gardening, musical performances, the Nutcracker, travel, knitting, painting, her dogs, chewy candies, Christmas, and Diet Coke.
Heather is survived by her sister Holly Heap; her children Hilary Anderson (and Doug Anderson), Ethan Cannon (and Alison Takenaka), and Zach Cannon (and Judy Lin Cannon); and her 8 grandchildren.
Join us in celebrating her life:
Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 11.
Brief Visitation: 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
All events to be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2411 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN.
Memorial contributions can be made to Exponent II (exponentii.org).
Online condolences may be made at dayderemiahfrye.com.
Heather Symmes Cannon passed away peacefully on September 8, 2015, after a six-month journey with pancreatic cancer. With her characteristic constancy, Heather spent her final months hosting family and friends, completing family history projects, writing, painting, and landscaping.
Heather was born on November 21, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her father was stationed with the military. The family returned home to Chicago in 1945, then settled in Evanston, IL in 1947 where she spent her childhood with her parents William and Irene (Opal) Symmes, her older sister Holly, and her younger sister Susan. Heather's childhood was punctuated by boating, skiing, summer exploration of America's west, elaborate holiday parties, and family visits.
Upon graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1962, Heather moved to the Boston area where she would stay until 1982. During these years, she sowed the seeds of her family, her friendships, her religious identity and her professional trajectory.
Heather attended Wellesley College, graduating with a degree in political science in 1967. She married Rowland Cannon in 1965. Children soon followed as Hilary, Mason, Ethan, and Zachary joined the family. Two months after his birth, Mason died in his sleep. His loss brought lasting grief, but also introduced Heather to the Mormon faith, leading to her baptism in 1973 and a lifelong relationship with the church.
Heather's introduction to Mormonism occurred at a special time and place. She didn't join just any congregation; she joined the Cambridge Ward, and immediately became involved with the founding of Exponent II, a feminist Mormon publication dedicated to honoring early Mormon sisters and giving place for contemporary women to bring together their spiritual and feminist inclinations. These Exponent years culminated in the publication of her chapter "Practical Politicians" in Mormon Sisters (1976), and forged a set of lifelong friendships and ideals.
Heather and Rowland's marriage came to an end in 1978. While these were difficult times, she turned trial into opportunity. Despite the counsel of several intimates and advisors to consider a secretarial career, Heather followed her parents' encouragement and enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University. She received her MBA in 1981, and embarked in a career in marketing research.
Heather's professional voyage commenced with a move back to Chicago in 1982. Her career took her from an associate position to the director of marketing research, from Quaker Oats to Kraft (Chicago) to Campbell's (the Jersey side of Philadelphia) to Armstrong Flooring (Lancaster, PA) to Electrolux (Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC). Both a victim and beneficiary of her perfectionism, Heather worked long hours, travelled extensively, formed deep relations, and thrived professionally until retiring in 2012.
Heather moved to Bloomington, IN in 2013 where she has been active in Women Writing for (a) Change, and advancing her family history by writing the story of several family members.
A proud matriarch, Heather freely boasted about her children and grandchildren. In addition to her dedication to family, church, and career, Heather was passionate about reading, writing, gardening, musical performances, the Nutcracker, travel, knitting, painting, her dogs, chewy candies, Christmas, and Diet Coke.
Heather is survived by her sister Holly Heap; her children Hilary Anderson (and Doug Anderson), Ethan Cannon (and Alison Takenaka), and Zach Cannon (and Judy Lin Cannon); and her 8 grandchildren.
Join us in celebrating her life:
Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 11.
Brief Visitation: 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
All events to be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2411 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN.
Memorial contributions can be made to Exponent II (exponentii.org).
Online condolences may be made at dayderemiahfrye.com.
Heather was born on November 21, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her father was stationed with the military. The family returned home to Chicago in 1945, then settled in Evanston, IL in 1947 where she spent her childhood with her parents William and Irene (Opal) Symmes, her older sister Holly, and her younger sister Susan. Heather's childhood was punctuated by boating, skiing, summer exploration of America's west, elaborate holiday parties, and family visits.
Upon graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1962, Heather moved to the Boston area where she would stay until 1982. During these years, she sowed the seeds of her family, her friendships, her religious identity and her professional trajectory.
Heather attended Wellesley College, graduating with a degree in political science in 1967. She married Rowland Cannon in 1965. Children soon followed as Hilary, Mason, Ethan, and Zachary joined the family. Two months after his birth, Mason died in his sleep. His loss brought lasting grief, but also introduced Heather to the Mormon faith, leading to her baptism in 1973 and a lifelong relationship with the church.
Heather's introduction to Mormonism occurred at a special time and place. She didn't join just any congregation; she joined the Cambridge Ward, and immediately became involved with the founding of Exponent II, a feminist Mormon publication dedicated to honoring early Mormon sisters and giving place for contemporary women to bring together their spiritual and feminist inclinations. These Exponent years culminated in the publication of her chapter "Practical Politicians" in Mormon Sisters (1976), and forged a set of lifelong friendships and ideals.
Heather and Rowland's marriage came to an end in 1978. While these were difficult times, she turned trial into opportunity. Despite the counsel of several intimates and advisors to consider a secretarial career, Heather followed her parents' encouragement and enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University. She received her MBA in 1981, and embarked in a career in marketing research.
Heather's professional voyage commenced with a move back to Chicago in 1982. Her career took her from an associate position to the director of marketing research, from Quaker Oats to Kraft (Chicago) to Campbell's (the Jersey side of Philadelphia) to Armstrong Flooring (Lancaster, PA) to Electrolux (Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC). Both a victim and beneficiary of her perfectionism, Heather worked long hours, travelled extensively, formed deep relations, and thrived professionally until retiring in 2012.
Heather moved to Bloomington, IN in 2013 where she has been active in Women Writing for (a) Change, and advancing her family history by writing the story of several family members.
A proud matriarch, Heather freely boasted about her children and grandchildren. In addition to her dedication to family, church, and career, Heather was passionate about reading, writing, gardening, musical performances, the Nutcracker, travel, knitting, painting, her dogs, chewy candies, Christmas, and Diet Coke.
Heather is survived by her sister Holly Heap; her children Hilary Anderson (and Doug Anderson), Ethan Cannon (and Alison Takenaka), and Zach Cannon (and Judy Lin Cannon); and her 8 grandchildren.
Join us in celebrating her life:
Visitation: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 11.
Brief Visitation: 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept 12.
All events to be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2411 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN.
Memorial contributions can be made to Exponent II (exponentii.org).
Online condolences may be made at dayderemiahfrye.com.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
