Joanne Metcalf Furnish, age 80, a resident of Aurora, formerly a longtime resident of Naperville, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois.  She was born November 24, 1936 in LaGrange, Illinois.

Joanne grew up LaGrange, Lincoln, Nebraska, Naperville, Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating from Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and graduated from Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.  She met Paul Furnish at Butler and they were married in 1958.

Paul, Joanne and family transferred to Naperville for Paul's job in 1968 where she was active with her daughter's education, volunteering for many of her children's school activities. She also served as a Girl Scout and Brownie leader for her girl's troops. She was active in the Naperville YMCA where she served on several committees.  Later in life, she was very active at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wheaton, serving as president of Episcopal Church Women's (ECW) - St. Julian's Guild and initiating the prayer shawl ministry at the church. Joanne also took three mission trips for the Episcopal Church to Honduras and Panama. She also was a volunteer for PADS and Meals on Wheels. For the past ten years she has taught Senior water aerobics. Additionally, she and Paul enjoyed extensive travel experiences during their marriage.

She is survived by her daughters, Carol (Larry) Krause of Mahomet, Illinois and Lynn (Polly Russell) Furnish of Prescott, AZ, and one sister, Jane Miller of Dallas, Texas. Her husband, Paul, proceeded her in death on Sunday, September 24, 2017. Click here for his obituary .

A memorial service and reception will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 N. West St., Wheaton, IL.  Friends may visit with the family prior to the service starting at 4:30. A reception will follow in Millett Hall of the church.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Episcopal Church Women (ECW) - St. Julian's Guild of Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 N. West St., Wheaton, IL, 60187 or at www.trinitywheaton.org/on-line-giving , Northwestern Medicine Home Health & Hospice, 690 E North Avenue, Carol Stream, IL 60188 or at www.nm/org/homehealth , or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or Caring Bridge at www.caringbridge.org .