Helen E. Cantlin

Helen E. Cantlin, of Earlville, IL passed away, Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in Mendota Community Hospital. She was born April 5, 1917 on the family farm in Freedom Township rural Earlville, IL the daughter of John C. and Laura Hughes Cantlin. Helen graduated from the University of Illinois and earned her Masters degree in music education in 1944. She taught school in Serena for two years. She began her entertainment career serving with the U.S.O. overseas entertaining the troops. She then returned to the Midwest starting her career with the Scott Sisters as Helen Scott, entertaining in Chicago, Springfield, and Peoria in wide-ranging venues. In 1967 she returned to Ottawa are where she persued her entertainment career locally at the Ottawa Steak House, and entertaining for the Ottawa Noon Rotary Club and was granted honorary Rotarian membership. She returned to teaching children and adults piano, while becoming certified in the Suzuki Method of teaching. She was a member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church where she played the organ for many years.
She is survived by one brother, Emmett (Linda) Cantlin of Earlville; three nephews, Jack (Kathy) Cantlin, Gary (Marie) Cantlin and Wayne (Barb) Cantlin all of Earlville, IL; five nieces, Margie (William) Rygh of Downers Grove, IL, Marlene Larsen of Phoenix, AZ, Barbara Cantlin of Rochelle, IL, Judith (Tim) Cantlin Ho of Boston, MA and Janet Lane of West Chicago, IL; and several great nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Harland Cantlin.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2010 at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church of Earlville, IL with Rev. Chris G Haake officiating. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery in Ottawa, IL. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m., at the Church on Saturday, May 22, 2010 until time of Mass at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements were entrusted to Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Earlville, Illinois.