Originally from Quincy, MA and a member St. Boniface Parish, Nannette founded St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, now Health Equity International, with Fr. Jerry Osterman in 1983. She spent 28 years building schools, clinics, churches, homes and finally St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs, Haiti.

Nannette has been married for over 60 years to Fred Canniff and they have 10 children together, 20 grandchildren, and many great grand children. She received an honorary Doctorate from Boston College in 2016 for work in Haiti. She retired in 2011 and remains on the Board of Trustees as President Emeritus.