Joe Cannon passed away peacefully on Tuesday October 10, 2017 after a ten-day hospital stay battling bilateral pneumonia. While in the hospital Joe talked excitedly about embarking on his next cruise vacation with his beloved wife Lillian Cannon. Retiring from business at age 63 allowed him plenty of time for hobbies, volunteer efforts, and many travel opportunities in his final years.
Joe was the first child born to Ellen and Joseph Cannon in the village of Ivesdale, Illinois on August 23, 1929. Falling farm prices prompted a move to Los Angeles in 1932 to join relatives in the meat counter service business. Joe retained many amazingly vivid memories about growing up in Southern California, and was never shy about sharing them. He attended Saint Michael Elementary in Los Angeles and graduated from Mount Carmel High School and Los Angeles State College. He met his first wife Angie Cernuto in 1950 while on a Catholic youth group trip to Wrightwood. They married the next year and celebrated with a large raucous Italian/Irish wedding party. Joe received his teaching credential that same year. Instead of teaching he went to work with his father and began his 40-year career in the meat business, the highlight of which was owning Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in Huntington Beach. Joe and Angie’s 56 years of marriage were spent nurturing two sons and four grandchildren in three counties. Family was always their priority. Six years after Angie’s retirement in 1993 they pulled up roots and moved to Camarillo to be closer to their youngest grandchildren. Soon they were involved in the same volunteer work and travel as before, but with a new set of friends.
After supporting Angie through multiple illnesses, Joe became a widower in May of 2008. He eventually returned to helping lead Super Senior trips for Saint Mary Magdalen with a widow named Lillian Apagoff. Joe and Lillian together made a wonderful team, began dating, and soon fell in love, again. Joe cornered Lillian in the hollow of a Giant Sequoia tree to pop the question. They were married to the joy of all their children at Mary Magdalen’s on Labor Day 2010 and celebrated with a Hawaiian themed reception. Besides arranging a non-stop stream of senior adventures, Joe and Lillian kept constant company together attending family events, live performances, and playing the card game Hand-and-Foot with each other and with friends, all rather competitively. Of their many vacations together, their favorite time was spent while visiting Hawaii.
During his entire life Joe enjoyed the company of dogs, bowling, reading, music, and following most all sports, especially baseball. He was a devout Catholic, a true gentleman with a joyous disposition, and honorable role model for many who knew him. Our hearts are saddened, but grateful for the full life of love he led.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents Ellen and Joseph; wife Angie; sister Pat (Len); brother Tom; in-laws Rosemary, Ben, Joe, Sherry, and James. His memory will be cherished by his wife Lillian; brothers Stephen and Jerry (Jeanne); sister-in-law Mary Anne; sons Tom (Helen) and Kevin (Linda); and with Lillian, 3 stepdaughters, 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass for Joe will commence on Monday, Oct. 16, 10am at Saint Mary Magdalen Church, at the Corner of Las Posas & Crestview in Camarillo. Following the Mass, internment and reception will follow immediately at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park. Casual Hawaiian attire is encouraged. Charitable contributions in Joe’s memory may be given to Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org).
Condolences may be left at www.ConejoMountain.com. 

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