Mary Jo Ann Mangano Canik

Mary Jo Ann Mangano Canik, 72, of Lake Charles, LA died at 9:54 PM on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in her residence. Mrs. Canik was born December 17, 1941 in DeRidder, LA, where she was a graduate of DeRidder High School. She attended LSU and graduated from McNeese State University, where she received her Master's + 30 in Education. Throughout her career, she taught at DeRidder, Grand Chenier Elementary, Creole Elementary and at South Cameron High School. Mrs. Canik was a past member of St. Eugene Catholic Church and a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, where she served on the Lady's Altar Society. She also participated in missions that brought her to Nicaragua and to the Holy Land. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, the Lake Charles Enterprise Club, and the Retired Teachers Association and served on the Board for the Lake Charles Symphony and the Lake Charles Little Theatre. Mrs. Canik also served as a volunteer on the Louisiana High School Rodeo Boosters Club and played in a poker group and a Mah Jongg group. Later in life, she enjoyed volunteering her time at Women and Children's Hospital, the Women's Shelter and Cross Roads Book Store. Mary Jo was a caregiver by nature, taking care of many family members and loved ones throughout the years. She always put her family first and was willing to sacrifice herself and her time for those she loved. She also enjoyed cooking and spending Sunday afternoons with her family. Mrs. Canik is survived by her children, Stephen Canik and wife Erin of Lake Charles, LA, John Canik and wife Mary of Creole, LA, Paul Canik and Shelly Trahan of Grand Chenier, LA, and Jennifer Canik and Wes Smith of Midland, TX; brother, John Mangano and wife Rose of Baton Rouge, LA; grandchildren, Kaylee Livingston and husband Brett, Lexie Canik and Jodi Trasclair, Taylor Canik and Kyle LeBouef, Skylar Canik, Madalyn Gordon, Cole-Jackson Canik, Tucker-Gage Canik, Christopher Trahan and Clay Trahan; great-grandchild, C'Lee Livingston; and her special friend, Judd McCann of Lake Charles. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orrie Canik; and parents, John Thomas and Mary Jane Stoma Mangano. Her funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Father John Huckaby will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be Johnson Funeral Home on Friday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:40 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pancreatic Cancer or Prostate Cancer Research.