June Montgomery
June 9, 1921 - November 15, 2004
Obituary
June Montgomery, nee: O’Connell
Beloved wife and mother June Montgomery died peacefully in her sleep at home on Monday, November 15th. She is sadly missed.
Viewing will be at Parker Chapel, 900 SW 146th St, Burien, on Sunday, Nov. 21 from about 6 to 8pm. Rosary at 7 pm.
Funeral Mass on Monday, Nov. 22 at 11am, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 15236 21st SW, Burien, WA. Reception in church hall, about 12 to 1pm.
Burial w/military honors, Mt. Tahoma Cemetery, Tues., Nov. 23 at 10:30am.
Memorial gifts may be made to Highline Hospital Foundation, 12844 Military Rd. So., Tukwila, WA 98618
June was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Dr. William and Mrs. Elizabeth nee: O’Neil O’Connell. After losing her mother as a child, she was blessed by the addition of 2 sisters to her family after her father’s remarriage to Mary P. O’Connell. She graduated from St. Maurice Academy/St. Hyacinthe, in Quebec. She then went to New York City to study nursing in a challenging urban environment, graduating from the Metropolitan Hospital School of Nursing, NY.
In wartime, June enlisted as a registered nurse in the US Army Nursing Corps and served from Oct. 1st, 1942 to Feb. 14th, 1946. She experienced World War II first hand, serving staunchly in North Africa and the invasions of Italy and France. Her battle and campaign experience included the Naples/Foggia, Rome/Arno, Southern France, and Rhineland campaigns. She was deeply affected by the hunger and poverty that she saw in Italy and other theatres of war, occasionally recounting stories of the desperate hunger experienced by the children. She was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Meritorious Service Unit Plaque, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.
After the war ended, June returned to school to receive her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont where she met and married Gordon Jones pilot, US Navy. The couple then moved to Seattle where Gordon found work at Boeing as an engineer. Meanwhile, June was employed as a Registered Nurse by Doctors Hospital, Seattle; Dr. Peterson; and Highline Hospital, Burien. Sadly, June lost her husband to colon cancer only two years after the birth of their first child, Sharon.
June eventually met and married widower, Boeing engineer and father of 3, James E. Montgomery. She served valiantly as wife and mother of 5, seeing her children through piano and music lessons, ballet and tap, Campfire Girls, Boy Scouts, and swimming meets.
June enjoyed many forms of artistry – from oils to weaving — and was a Charter Member of the Seahurst Gallery, Burien, where she exhibited her watercolor and acrylic paintings. An insatiable reader, ever intellectually curious, she pursued her passions for travel, art, history and architecture in England, France, Italy, Turkey, China and the US accompanied by her husband Jim. June enjoyed her garden and lobster.
June Montgomery is survived by
Her loving husband: James E. Montgomery
Her sisters: Mary P. Pete Tomasi and Paula O’Connell
Her immediate family: Michael Montgomery and Leslie Patten
Sharon Sam Montgomery and Jim Hamilton
Nancy Montgomery and Jack Vreeland
Carol and Frank DeCleve
Jim and Rebecca Montgomery
5 grandchildren:
Ed Esse; James Esse; Jennifer Richardson; Michael P. and Pascale Montgomery
7 great grandchildren:
Krista, Quade and Jackie Esse
Anthony and Joey Esse
Noah and Jacob Richardson
We send our love and prayers for God’s comfort to Uncle Jim and all the family.
Warmest memories and my prayers are with her. I’ll miss our lively discussions on almost every subject under the sun!
Jim and Family,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Frank
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
As good firends of Mike and Leslie and their family, we offer our sincerest sympathy on your loss.
The world has lost a loving and wonderful person that lived life to the fullest.
Aunt June will be greatly missed. Theresa Canaday
The world has lost a loving and wonderful person that lived life to the fullest.
Aunt June will be greatly missed. Theresa Canaday
Thank you Jim for sending us the lovely memorial service bulletin. We will miss June and remember her with admiration for her vast knowlege of art and history.
Our prayers for you and your family in the time of sorrow.