June Aldwinckle
June 15, 1933 - May 11, 2023
June Margaret Aldwinckle (nee Staley), passed away peacefully on May 11, 2023 in her 90th year, with family by her side. Predeceased by her loving husband Clive, her parents Bill and Elsie Staley, brother Billy, sister Gill, and brother-in-law Bunt Fairweather, all of Hadlow, Kent, England. She was the proud mother of Glenn Aldwinckle (Dorina), Janice Netherton (Vlad), Carolyn Vance (Doug) and Diane Keil (Cal).
"Nana" was adored by her many grandchildren: David (Stephanie), Dani (Bryan), Lindsay (Cole), Rick, Jenny (Greg), David, Michael, Cassie (Kevin), Chris (Paulina), and Jamie, and was so thrilled to be great-Nana to James and Owen Barker, Knox and Baylor Collins, and Jack Aldwinckle.
June was born in Hadlow, Kent, England where she finished school and enrolled in the Royal Air Force in 1951. Here she met the love of her life, Clive, who convinced her to marry him in 1954. Emigrating to Canada in 1955, she supported Clive's RCAF career and raised their children, also becoming a Canadian citizen in 1970. Beyond the family, June was never idle. She established a preschool in her home and volunteered at a church camp near Gimli, Manitoba, worked in retail sales in North Bay, Ontario, was a sales clerk for Hallmark in London, Ontario and Waterloo, and was a volunteer at the Columbia Forest Long Term Care Centre in Waterloo for 18 years.
June was healthy and active for most of her 89 years, loving to go for walks around the neighbourhood in Waterloo. She and Clive travelled often after his retirement, enjoying trips to warm islands, some exciting cruises, an Italian adventure and a few visits to the Yukon. She treasured their life together with family, always looking forward to the next gathering for birthdays and holidays. In recent years, she was amazingly dedicated to caring for Clive when his health began to decline, never wanting to leave his side.
June's legacy will be her devotion to her grandchildren. She spent countless hours with them all as babies, having tea parties, bubble baths, sleepovers and numerous wonderful adventures, chauffeured by Poppa! Everything was photographed and the treasured pictures were carefully placed in albums for the kids and parents to look through and enjoy. She never stopped offering her Nana-sitting services, and stayed involved and interested in all of their lives as they grew, a few starting families of their own. Welcoming each of her 5 great-grandchildren has been a special thrill in the past few years, and of course she offered to babysit! June loved to sing and could always make a connection from any topic of conversation to the lyrics of an unknown song she had filed away in her memory bank. Many of us in the family have inherited this wonderful quality.
Special thanks to the amazing Claire who has supported our family for many years now. We are forever grateful for your care and kindness. June was also very fond of her friend Sree, who spent countless hours by her side and was a thoughtful compassionate companion.
Arrangements entrusted to Henry Walser Funeral Home (519-749-8467). A private celebration of life and memorial will be held by the family at a future date.