Supercentenarian Profile

Florence Canonic

Born:

1902-02-08

Hyde Park, Utah

United States

Died:

2012-12-25

Temple City, Los Angeles, California

United States

Florence Mary Canonic (née Lyon) was an American supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Florence Canonic was born in Hyde Park, Utah, USA, on 8 February 1902, to parents George Lyon (1858–1938) and Sarah Alice Woolf (1866–1933). She had 10 siblings, including: Hazel Alice Bake (1887–1982), Doris Mae Pilkington (1891–1918), Gladys Charlotte Griffiths (1893–1982), Wilda Rae Carlile (1896–1970), George Budd Lyon (1897–1994), Orpha Rhoda Drown (1905–1999), and Denece Mair Knudsen (1906–1989). Five of her siblings died in their 90s. Her paternal grandparents were born in Lincolnshire, England.

At the age of 10, her family moved to Metropolis, Nevada, where she spent her childhood on a farm. She later recalled that the children had plenty to eat and plenty of hard work, but that life on the farm was pleasant. After graduating from high school and attending the University of Utah and the University of Nevada, she began her teaching career. She taught at several small, one-room schools in Nevada before eventually teaching in Genoa, Nevada, where she served as principal. It was there that she met her lifelong companion, Bert Clarence Canonic (1905–1992). They were married in Carson City, Nevada, on 4 August 1927, at the age of 25, and had one son, Keith Canonic. Her husband’s family came from Switzerland.

She later taught at Pyramid Lake and in the Reno school system until her retirement. She traveled to many places, including Australia, New Zealand, other Pacific islands, Mexico, Europe, Israel, Japan, Jakarta, and the Philippines. Nearly every summer, when she was not teaching, she and her husband traveled throughout the United States. After her husband retired, they began traveling to foreign countries. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they traveled to Alaska. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her early 90s, she served for two years in the Reno Temple.

Her cousin, Cleo Hinckley (1890–2002), died at the age of 111 years, 352 days. Canonic’s mother was a younger sister of Hinckley’s mother, Hattie Cranney (1862–1896).

Florence Canonic passed away in Temple City, Los Angeles, California, on 25 December 2012, at the age of 110 years, 321 days. She was survived by her son, as well as six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 19 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild.