Gregory Lee Cannata

Sally and family. I am SO sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. I will light a candle for you Saturday evening.
Charlene

My husband and I attended Newman with Greg and my career and his intersected through the years. I always enjoyed our brief opportunities to “catch up” and enjoyed his quick intellect and wit. Greg was an incredibly smart guy who was well respected by his clients and peers. My sympathies and prayers to the family. He is certainly gone too soon.

I met the Cannata ata family in about 1970 or 1971, and I have fond memories of each of them. I would have been about 14 or 15 years old at the time of our meeting. My Dad, Mom, sister and I were invited to their home for a meal of homemade Lasagna, made by the Cannata father, Burt. He and my dad, Bill Rainer, worked together at Boeing in Wichita. I remember meeting Burt, Rosalie, Eugene, John, Greg and Cheri Cannata. My family was Bill, Wanda, me, and my younger sister, Jan(et).

Of all of the names listed here, I remember each and every name listed here as kind, decent and so very happy and fun. I have often wondered why we didn’t get together again after that one weekend I recall. It’s possible we did meet again and that I was young enough I just don’t remember it, but I don’t believe that to be the case. I remember that my mom, Wanda, and Rosalie seemed to like one another very much and they got along famously. Jan and I got along very well with all four of of the Cannata children.

The next thing I remember after that weekend get-together was my dad telling the others in my family of Burt Cannata’s death. It has been a long time ago, but I believe he said that Burt passed from an unanticipated heart attack. I feel certain that either just Dad, or perhaps Mom and Dad likely attended Burt’s funeral.

After that, we each grew up and went our separate ways. I don’t recall seeing him after that weekend any time since it took place, but I do recall thinking of each one and wondering about them all.

In about 1980, both my husband and I took up the hobby of Genealogical Research. I have continued practicing that hobby and the research that goes along with it ever since. My grandfather (my mother’s father) was raised in a Catholic school and church in Henryetta, Oklahoma. When he died in September 1977, he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Wichita – a Catholic cemetery. My grandmother was buried beside him when she passed in 1992. Sometime later, I remember seeing Burt and Rosalie listed at that cemetery on the Find-A-Grave website while doing some research there. Their graves are accessed via the Vassar St. entrance, on the east side, and north of the caretaker’s garage about half way between it and the road. Their names were John Clyde and Maretta M.

Later, still, the neighbor’s I grew up with to the east of our house passed away. Their only daughter, Melissa (Whorton) Peltzer passed away from breast cancer on September 21, 2016. Her resting place is also at Calvary in the mausoleum. (Melissa and I suffered breast cancer diagnoses and treatments during a very close time frame. I survived. She did not.) Less than a month later, Melissa’s father, Arthur, died unexpectedly on October 9, 2016. I have always believed that his passing was from a broken heart over losing his only child. On May 15, 2024, Melissa’s mother, Phyllis Whorton passed at the age of 98. I stayed in touch with Phyllis through, or to, the passing of all three of them.

We could never have hoped for better neighbors through the years! I will keep their memories alive for as long as I live to share them with others.

My heart grieves each and every loss of these wonderful individiuals and families: The Cannatas, The Egnews, The Whortons and The Rainers. I will hold their very special memories in my thoughts and prayers.

Cindy K. (Rainer) Duckett