Rebecca Schmieder McCanna

Rebecca Schmieder McCanna, age 66 of Sautee Nacoochee, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.  She was born October 31, 1951 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Commander Arthur Herman Schmieder, U. S. Navy (Retired) and the late Norma Amyx Lowery.  She married her high school sweetheart, Major Brad McCanna, U. S. Marine Corps (Retired) on June 30, 1979. 

Also surviving are her two sons, Ryan (Billie Jo) McCanna of Buford, and 2nd Lieutenant Sean (Erica) McCanna, U. S. Air Force of Prattville, Alabama; two granddaughters Koree and Ashton; two grandsons Trevor and Brayden; one brother Michael (Katie) Schmieder; one sister Katherine Schmieder; one nephew Michael; and two nieces Kimberly and Katelynn. 

Rebecca loved travelling and enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives.  She also loved sharing her experiences and spent her many years as a military spouse training and counselling the younger wives in the ways of military service.  She firmly believed that spouses play a critical role in military readiness.  When Brad left the Marine Corps and founded the Navy Junior ROTC unit at East Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, Rebecca spent much of her spare time over the next nineteen years teaching and mentoring his cadets who knew her lovingly as “Major Mom.”

Visitation is from 1:30PM until 3:30PM on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Memorial Park Funeral Home.  A memorial service will follow at 3:30PM on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, also at Memorial Park Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.