Edwards – With heavy, saddened hearts but joyfulness for her, the family of June (Christensen) Edwards announces that she very peacefully went to be with her Beloved Savior and her dearly departed friends and family on Monday afternoon, July 23, 2018. She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed at 95 years young in her Sunrise Gardens room, following a very long, heart-breaking journey with dementia and a stroke. June was born in her family farm home near Jenner, Alberta on June 13, 1923 to Hans Peter and Blanche Christensen. Mom received her education at Jenner, Medicine Hat as well as through correspondence courses. On April 14, 1944, she married her beloved Richard Lewis (Dick) Edwards in the little Jenner United Church – one of the first weddings held there. They then lived on their small ranch near the Brooks Aqueduct, until Dick passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2009 after nearly 65 years of marriage. June, as a stay-at-home mom, helped raised their family (Gail and Sherry), set up a cattle operation, co-owned Dick Edwards Custom Haying and raised many fine, registered Quarter Horses. Mom was always a remarkably humble and kind lady with a great sense of humor, remarkable resiliency, and determination – traits passed onto her next generations. She always had a heart of gold, lived for her family and took so much joy in their accomplishments! June truly lived her Christianity through her honesty, generosity, caring for others and her love for her extended family members also, as she was the organizer for many celebrations. One of her amazing abilities was that she could whip up a delicious meal for unexpected visitors and the branding crew within a very short time, as she loved having company over! She also was an excellent writer/editor, spending many hours helping to organize and assemble the Jenner and area history book, “Prairie Crucible” around 1990. She sewed many beautiful tap dance/Halloween costumes and other clothing for her children. One of her greatest talents is that she could play the organ/piano by ear plus played the clarinet in the Brooks Band, as she came from a very musical family. Thus, she was the pianist for various organizations, including the Brooks United Church Sunday School, United Church Women (UCW), Order of the Royal Purple (OORP), Order of the Eastern Star, Long Term Care as well as the tap dance lessons taught by Gail. June loved her church, also teaching Sunday School, attended most services and became a Life Member of the UCW, OORP and The Eastern Star. Other hobbies were gardening, reading, cooking/baking/cake-decorating, dancing, ceramics, bird-watching, tending the farm dogs and observing nature! She could hardly wait for spring in Jenner to arrive, always watching for the very first crocus flower with her dear friend, Cora Hansen! June is survived by her loving family including her two daughters and sons-in-law – Gail Edwards (Al Budarin) of Calgary and Sherry (Pat) Lisowski of Brooks along with four grandchildren, Cindi Doonanco (great-grandchildren Erica and Alex Doonanco), Kimberli (Andy) McCarrick (great-grandchildren Shalene Eastman and Jade McCarrick), Ryan Lisowski (wife, Mary Castorina) and Ian Lisowski. Also mourning June’s passing are Cindi and Kim’s father (Padgett Eastman), sisters-in-law, Bernice Edwards and Monica Christensen, cousin Marianne Rolsted in Denmark, numerous nieces, nephews, friends and the 2nd Floor staff at Sunrise Gardens. She was predeceased by her husband Dick, her parents Peter and Blanche Christensen, siblings/spouses: James (Georgie) Brodie, Robert (Florence) Brodie, Waldemar (Walt) Christensen and his wife (Leona), Gordon Christensen (at age 7 months), Peter Christensen and Calvin (Gladys) Christensen, a great-grandson (Brandon Doonanco) as well as by these in-laws: John (Jack) Edwards and his wife, Edith, Helen (Ben) Heinrichs, Penilla (Doug) Wheeler and Roderick Edwards as well as other extended family members. Funeral service for June Edwards will be held on Tuesday, July 31 at 2:00 PM from Brooks United Church with Rev. Esther Crews officiating. Interment to follow in the Brooks Cemetery. In memory of June, if friends desire, memorial donations may be made in June’s memory to either the Alzheimer Society of Alberta, High Park Corner, #308, 14925 – 111Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5M 2P6, Brooks United Church Memorial Fund, 507 – 3rd Avenue, Brooks, Alberta T1R 0B2 or Arthritis Society, #200, 1301 – 8th Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2R 1B7.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM
BROOKS, ALBERTA
Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca
Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652
“Our Families Serving Your Family Since 1951”
