Joyce Caroline Friedel

Joyce Caroline Looney Hazelwood Friedel, age 88, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on July 3, 2026 from a brief illness. She was born on August 12, 1937 in Salina, Kansas to John Henry and Jessie Dorothy (Eibert) Looney.

Joyce graduated from Salina High School in 1955. On August 14, 1955, she married Jackie Duane Hazelwood and relocated to Wichita, KS, where they had five children: Michael Udel, Wayne Douglas, Mary Ann, Gary Duane, and Jack Leroy.

Jackie passed away in 1969. In 2004, Joyce found love again, and married the Honorable Karl Walker Friedel, who passed away in 2008.

While her children were growing up, Joyce was an active participant in their activities such as: Cub Scout den mother, Camp Fire Girls, and dance. She would dress up and host Halloween parties for the neighborhood kids and taffy pull parties for extended family.

Along the years, someone gave her a roadrunner as a gift. She would usually say “beep, beep,” like she was a roadrunner. It became a “fun” gift for her to receive and collect/display them around her home. Also, one of her favorite expressions was “Are we having fun yet?” She had a very good sense of humor, and her children and grandchildren would love to tease her just to get a funny reaction from her. And when her flexibility was challenged or things did not go exactly as planned, she would often comment to “adapt and modify.” She was a beacon that was able to guide her family home regularly even when they lived far away.

Throughout her life, Joyce enjoyed playing bridge, duplicate bridge, and tournament bridge. She had a strong, loving connection with her fellow bridge players. She also enjoyed traveling abroad with friends and family. She followed her mother’s passion of crocheting, cross-stitching, and playing Rook (following the Looney Rules of Play).

Joyce’s working career was quite varied: working at a soda fountain, in shoe sales, an Office Manager for manufacturing companies, managing a ladies’ clothing store, a financial advisor, and retiring as a recruiter for the Kansas Guardianship Program that recruited citizen volunteers to serve as legal guardians for the vulnerable.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jessie Looney, her brother, John Henry Looney, Jr., her son, Gary Duane, her first husband, Jackie Hazelwood, her second husband, Karl Friedel, and her grandson, Christopher Hazelwood.

She is survived by four children: Michael Hazelwood of Wichita; Wayne (Catherine) Hazelwood of Sachse, TX; Mary (Terry) Bariel of Sun City, AZ; and Jack (Cindy) Hazelwood of Florence, AZ; five grandchildren – Whitney, Jarrett, Robin, Jaclyn (Tim) Reed, and Matthew; seven great-grandchildren - Samantha, Brandon, Levi, Isaac, Kiara, Titus, and Kasen; and one great-great grandchild - Blake.

She is also survived by her brother, Jerold (Sharon) Looney of Hermitage, MO.

A private family graveside service is planned for Friday, July 24, 2026 at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS, 67202.