HAVEN - Joan L. "Joli" Cantwell, 83, died June 28, 2007, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.

She was born Feb. 11, 1924, in Hutchinson, the daughter of Karl E. and Ethel M. Davis Donnell. She graduated from Hutchinson High School with the class of 1941, Wichita University class of 1945, and completed her post-graduate work at the University of Kansas, and studied classical music at Bethany College. A longtime resident of Haven, she was a retired school teacher, having taught in Douglass, Haven, and Hutchinson, and was the co-owner and operator of Cantwell Funeral Home and Furniture Store, in Haven for 45 years.

She belonged to United Church of Christ/Congregational Church, Haven, the Mayflower Circle of the church, LaCadena Club, Haven, was a choir director at the church for 25 plus years. She was an opera-trained soprano, and had trained with and was accepted into the St. Louis Metropolitan Opera.

On Jan. 10, 1948, she married Robert D. "Bob" Cantwell in Hutchinson. He died Oct. 6, 2000.

Survivors include: a son, Patrick, Wichita.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at United Church of Christ/Congregational Church, Haven, with the Rev. John Wright presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Laurel Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to the United Church of Christ/Congregational Church, or the Haven Public Library, both in care of the funeral home.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.