Joan (Joann) Canavan, 86, of Ambler died peacefully at home on June 28, 2026, amid the love of her family who cherished her dearly. Joann (nee Ford) Canavan was the beloved wife of Joseph Canavan for more than 50 years; the proud mother of Joseph (Regina) and Susan (John) Wenz; a loving grandmother of Alexandra, Madelyn and Sophie Wenz and Ryan and Lola Canavan; and the caring sister of Lucille Pew (William).

Born in Philadelphia, Joann was predeceased by her husband, her parents Martin and Josephine (nee Tronosky) Ford, and her brother Martin Ford (Maureen).  

Joann was a loving mom known for her warm smile, her kind, gentle demeanor, and her love of art and the city of Philadelphia. She was a tour guide in Philadelphia and later started an Art Goes to School program at the local Catholic schools. Joann was a volunteer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for more than 20 years and enjoyed taking her grandchildren to art lessons at the museum. She loved summers in Stone Harbor, N.J., with her husband and children, winter trips to Jupiter, Fla., and spending time with her brother and sister. She was lucky to have sisters-in-law who were her best friends.  Her family is grateful to her caregivers and especially Serving Spirit and the Pennsylvania Hospital Hospice team for their amazing support. 

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation at 10 a.m. and funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at St. Alphonsus Church, 33 Conwell Drive, Maple Glen, Pa. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Project H.O.M.E. (projecthome.org), 1515 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, which was founded by her husband’s dear cousin, Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M.