To start, I would like to thank whoever posted the photo of June with the flowers.  She looks absolutely beautiful in that photo.  What a great way to remember her.

My name is Tessa, and I am the daughter of Barb - Betty's youngest daughter. June was my Great Aunt.

Growing up in Saskatchewan, we got to see Aunt June on a more regular basis than some.  There are so many stories you could tell from these visits.  Aunt June was definintely a more memorable auntie!  She was the book MASTER - and children's books were her specialty.  Aunt June was always gifting books to all of us, many of which became my most cherished childhood stories.  Aunt June was also a great historian, she knew so much about our family's history, and was always ready to share.  She didn't only have books to share, but many family artifacts as well, which she gifted over the years to all of us as keep sakes.

Two of my most fond memories of June from my childhood:

1 - When she "borrowed" my brother's early grades science textbook and didn't want to give it back because "she wasn't finished it yet".  Mom had to strong arm her to send it back, because, well....William needed it for school!

2 - Aunt June was visiting in the Fall, and a girlfriend and I were admiring her rainbow colored sweater.  We let her know while we were all visitng in my parent's jewelery store.  Her response to our compliment was to break out in a little jig and say "yes I know, isn't it lovely?  Joseph called me this morning asking for it back".  She thought this was hilarous, and if you know aunt June, you know her laugh.  She was almost histerical, but the joke went over our heads.  Because of that, we needed to sit down and be schooled on "Joseph and the Technicolored Dream Coat".  My friend still brings up that experience that that day, man did we giggle.

After highschool, I decided to move to Toronto to go to school.  While living in Ontario I ended up helping Aunt June move/unpack...not once, but twice.  These were not jobs for the faint of heart, it definintely caused us to have more than a few little arguements. It wasn't always easy, but it wasn't always hard either.  I remember after a long day of unpacking after the first move, we sat out on her day bed, she marveled at the space she had and gave me a big hug.  Now, Aunt June was very tiny - so her hugs always managed to place her head pretty much on most women's chests.  This would always make her giggle, and then me as well.  Those were some pretty great hugs.

I tried my best to get up every so often to see Aunt June, just north of Toronto.  Always bringing some tasty treats, espeically around Christmas - and always a nice block of Balderson Cheddar.  Since moving back west though, I have not seen her.  I know her condition had deteriorated quite a bit, and I was very sad to hear about her fall and subsequent passing.  I am happy to know that she is at peace now - back with her mom, my grandma, and others.  Her illness caused her to push people away, even me towards the end.  This isn't the case anymore, she is no longer burdened by anything that ailed her.  She is surrounded by love and full of light.  Rest in peace Aunt June...until we meet again.

(The photos I have shared are from an extra special trip up to visit Aunt June.  I brought my cousin Araan, and her 1st son John up to meet her.  She was just thrilled with the extra special guests, and to get to see a Great Great nephew from so far away)