June 5, 1922 – August 17, 2014
It is with great sorrow that the family of June Allison Beaddie (formerly June Matthews/nee Heather) announce her passing at the age of 92 in the Lady Minto Hospital.
June was born in Vancouver to the late Margaret and Guy Heather. During her twenties June worked with her father in the family fur business, G.G. Heather Furs on Granville Street. She was active in Soroptimist International and the United Church. June married Robert John Matthews, a British petroleum engineer, in 1951 and they had one daughter, Maggie Elaine.
June and Bob lived in Calgary until Bob’s death in 1962, whereupon June returned to university (U.B.C.) at the age of 40 and qualified as an elementary school teacher. She then taught school for 10 years with both the Burnaby and Vancouver School Boards.
In 1968 June married Arthur Beaddie, and the two retired to Salt Spring in 1975, where they spent many happy years embracing the Salt Spring Island lifestyle. Together, they were active in the Anglican Church community, kept bees, grew vegetables and apple trees, hiked, and most importantly, enjoyed many wonderful friendships. Following Arthur’s death in 1999, June continued to live in her beloved Vesuvius area home, and kept busy with church activities, growing prize winning dahlias, bridge and the rug hooking club.
June was predeceased by four siblings, George, Jessie, Mary and Robin. Her loss is mourned by her sister Emily (Comox, B.C.), daughter Maggie Elaine Corns, five grandchildren (Dan, Ben, Megan, Jon and Alison), three great-granddaughters (Giselle, Marissa and Sherise) and numerous nieces and nephews, and her many dear friends.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the medical and nursing staff of the Lady Minto Hospital for their dedicated and caring support during this last difficult week. Special thanks to Dr. Magda Leon and nurse Danielle.
A Service of Thanksgiving for June’s life will be held at All Saints Anglican Church, Ganges, on Monday, August 25th, 2014 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to either the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, or to Soroptimist International, a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls.