Dear Parish Family,
Some of you have been inquiring about my overseas visit to see my father, and for those that have already heard of his passing, I am buoyed by all your prayers and expressions of support. Back in late December 2016, my father had traveled to Cebu, Philippines to visit my sister and other family members and to escape the Missouri winter. He had hoped to come back home to Missouri in time for his 90th birthday in March. In the interim, his health had declined considerably, and it became apparent that such an arduous journey back would not be advisable.
My sister, Lita, said that he probably would not make it by year’s end, and so that’s when I decided to go to the Philippines in late July and to visit while he was still lucid. My brother, N.J., and I were so very thankful to have made it in time to say goodbye, but we did not think he would go so soon. It almost seemed like he was hanging on just to long enough to see us one more time.
We had a funeral Mass on Monday, July 31 here in Cebu, Philippines, from where I write this note to you. We are transporting his cremated remains back to Missouri, where we will have the final funeral rites, the Mass of Christian Burial, on Saturday, August 26 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the Canoys’ parish since 1972. His remains will be buried right next to Mom’s. If interested in more details, you can find his obituary below.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Chas
Obituary of Dr. Nestor R. Canoy:
Nestor Rabe Canoy, M.D., 90, of Columbia, Missouri passed peacefully on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at his daughter’s home in Cebu, Philippines. His son, Rev. Chas Canoy, celebrated a funeral Mass in Cebu on Monday, July 31. His remains are on the way to Missouri, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Columbia on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, (903 Bernadette Drive) at 10:00 a.m., followed by a brunch reception in the parish hall and the Rite of Committal at Memorial Park Cemetery (1217 Business Loop 70 West).
Nestor was born on March 7, 1927 in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, the son of the late Mariano and Laureana Rabe Canoy. He married Lolita Montano on April 12, 1953 in Manila. They both graduated from the University of the Philippines with the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). They came to the U.S. for their respective residencies and for Nestor’s fellowship in Oncology. He and Lolita returned to Cebu, Philippines to open Canoy Clinic, and he concurrently served as the chief of Radiology at a number of hospitals in Cebu. He also taught at Southwestern University College of Medicine.
When martial law was declared in the Philippines in 1972, he moved the family (including his in-laws, the Honorable Justiniano and Ligaya Montano) to Columbia, Missouri and accepted the offer to be the Chief of Radiology at the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital. He later opened his private practice, Radiation Oncology, Inc., and served Boone Hospital, Bothwell Regional, Samaritan, and a number of locum hospitals.
He was a devout follower of Jesus Christ and an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, where he attended daily Mass and served as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy communion. He was a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He delighted in playing golf, his Thursday and Saturday breakfast groups, the CCMO “wild bunch” group, and family road trips around the country.
Nestor is survived by his children: N.J. (Nestor Justin) and wife Peggy of Columbia, Missouri; Lita Quisumbing and husband John of Cebu; Fr. Chas of Jackson, Michigan; and Chip and wife Sarah of Columbia. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Jon Erik and wife Janeen Quisumbing; of Cebu; Justin Quisumbing of Cebu; Solomon and Grace Canoy of Columbia; and great grandchild, Janna Quisumbing of Cebu.
Other surviving relatives include: his brother Reuben and wife Solona of Cagayan de Oro; sister Yolanda Limjoco and husband Jorge of Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law Inday Canoy of Manila; sister-in-law Irene de los Angeles of Manila; brother-in-law Julian Montano and wife Nilda of Cavite; sister-in-law Eleanor Montano of St. Louis; brother-in-law Rogelio Manalo of Manila and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He had four very special caregivers, Ludette Legardo of Columbia and Nimpha Cayson, Zenaida Sayon, and Eddie Villarin of Cebu.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Henry, sister Elsie Escobar, and of course his beloved wife Lolita, who passed away on May 19, 2015. May they all share in the eternal joy of the Holy Trinity and all the angels and saints!
