Our beloved mother, grandmother and devoted wife, Joanne M. Cantwell, (87) of Kimberton passed away on October 5, 2026. She is dearly missed by her husband of 61 years, Charles R. Cantwell, and her loving family.

The second of four children, she was born in Howell, Michigan on October 27, 1938, to the late Harold and Eda Smith. She began school at a one-room school house on the family farm, where she read every book in the library and became curious about the wider world. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1960, and was employed by General Motor Corporation in Warren, MI. During this time, she and a friend took on new adventures to Chicago, NYC, Florida, and Montreal, beginning a lifelong love of exploring new places. She met Chuck, a race car driver and engineer in Detroit, and when he was offered a job in Los Angeles, California, they married and set off on a new adventure together driving from Michigan to California on their honeymoon and discovering wild new foods like tacos.

In CA, she worked for Oldsmobile Zone Office in Beverly Hills, and started a family while Chuck worked 12-hour days at Shelby American on the GT350 program. In rare downtime, they explored California, always bringing their daughter, Carol, along. The family later moved to Pennsylvania for Chuck's work at Penske Racing, where they welcomed their son, David. Joanne was a loving wife and mother, who always centered life around family. She instilled in them an appreciation for nature, a sense of curiosity, a love of adventure and a sense of humor. As the kids aged, she joined Kodak's Eastman Pharmaceuticals and worked through the changes as it eventually became part of Sterling GlaxoSmithKline. She thrived in the corporate world, and retired in 2003.

Never one to sit still, Joanne was a longtime member of the Loose Threads Quilting Guild, Centennial Lutheran Church in Kimberton, and a local Book Club. She volunteered at Chester County Libraries and served on the Election Board in West Vincent Township for 20 years. Her curiosity led her to explore new places, visiting 46 states and 30 countries. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, floral arranging, and quilting, and was known for making the best jam and apple pie. Attending Dodge and Shelby events with her husband, and regular trips to Longwood Gardens and Chester County Day, created many special memories along the way. Above all, she treasured time spent with family and friends and loved keeping up with their lives.

Joanne is survived by her beloved husband, Chuck; her daughter Carol (Rex) Riley of Westminster, MD; her son DC Cantwell (Skye) of Honeoye Falls, NY, grandchildren Ryan (MacLaren) Riley, Brandon Riley, Jessica Riley and Eliana Cantwell, brother Ronald Smith of Howell, MI, sister Cheryl Wermuth of Grand Rapids, MI. Her brother, Roger Smith of Nebo, NC preceded her in death. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and all those whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held at Centennial Lutheran Church in Kimberton on October 24, 2026 with visitation starting at 10 a.m until the time of service at 11 a.m. Reception will follow after the service time. Interment will be private. Donations in her memory can be made to Centennial Lutheran Church in Kimberton PA http://centenniallutheran.org/ or the Chester Springs Library https://www.chesterspringslibrary.org/support.