Surrounded by laughter and memories, June Isobell Bales passed away, Saturday, January 13, 2018. The daughter of Isobell Mae and Jack Woolley was 93.
June will be fondly remembered by her children: Michael, Sandra, Scott, Nanci, Jeffrey, Clayton and Brandon. As well, by their respective partners and spouses, current and former, her 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and her step-brother, Stephen.
The family is incredibly grateful to the hard-working women and men at Southlake Residential Care Village who looked after June in her final 15 months, as well as her dear neighbours at Southlake and in Bradford, Katherine and Bruce, who treated June as if she was a family member.
June was equal parts grace and determination; elegance and strength; affection and independence. She was born in rural Minnesota and grew up in Winnipeg. She relocated to Toronto soon after the end of the Second World War, following her mother’s death from cancer.
In Toronto, June met the man she would marry, who is the father of her seven children. She spent the next two decades caring for her family through six different towns in two different countries. She worked multiple jobs as a single mother from the mid-1960s to the late-1970s to provide for her family. She was an inspiration her entire life.
In 1970, June returned to Canada, living in Newmarket and then in Bradford. For nearly 20 years she was a dedicated administrator and educator at Huron Heights Secondary School and a vibrant patron of the Bradford Public Library until dementia curtailed her passion for reading. Even though dementia took so much from her, until the very end she was able to sit at the piano and fill her home with music, much to the delight of all who heard her play.
At June’s request, there will be neither a memorial nor a funeral. The family politely requests no flowers be sent. Outside of her family, two of June’s greatest pleasures were a glass of scotch and a good song. To honour her memory, we suggest the following: One night, when there is a free moment, pour a glass of J&B and play “Moon River” by Andy Williams on your stereo. It would be a tribute fitting for such a great woman.