The Rev. Valerian Kanabaj, Priest-in-Charge of the Chapel of Our Lady of Vladimir here, died at Saint Anthony Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer on Sunday, January 19, 2003.
Born in Chicago in 1932, he was married to the former Helen Ann Akerman in 1956. A US Army veteran, he worked as a court reporter for many years prior to his 1994 ordinations to the Diaconate and Priesthood by His Grace, Bishop Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. In 1997, he was received into the ranks of clergy of the Orthodox Church in America.
For many years, Father Kanabaj and his wife operated the Mother of Mercy Priory Orthodox Retirement Home, St. Petersburg, FL. He also served as a chaplain with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
In addition to his wife, Father Kanabaj is survived by four daughters, Sandra Ambush, Theresa Simpson, Donna Kanabay Harvey, and Catherine Naghitorabi, and five grandchildren.
Father Kanabaj will lie in state at Saint Stefano Greek Orthodox Church, 3600 76th Street North, St. Petersburg, on Friday, January 24, with a Memorial scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 25.
May Father Kanabaj’s memory be eternal!