June Miller was a woman of fierce intelligence and unconditional love, married to the late David Miller, beloved mother of Sean and the late Caia Miller, and devoted sister of Rose-Marie Batley and the late Mary Davis, Ed Laushway, and Susan Laushway.
June grew up on her grandfather’s farm in Spencerville, graduated from Queen’s with a major in mathematics and a minor in French, and lived afterwards in England, Montreal and Ottawa. She enjoyed a long career in IT, solving problems and making friends. June met David when he arrived in Montreal and took her course: it was she who taught him all about computers.
She formed lasting friendships easily and was generous with her time. She will be dearly missed by Joce Blad, Lorna Stoddart and Anne Leger, good friends until the end: June met Joce over 30 years ago at work; Lorna and Anne were in the group of friends who for 25 years rose at 5am to walk around Blackburn Hamlet to talk and set the world to rights.
June loved mystery novels and music: she would reliably sing along when music was playing, and earlier in March was gleefully bopping around in her seat at an Aretha Franklin tribute concert. She also enjoyed bridge and cryptic crosswords.
June will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, children of friends, and by Jana Galanska, her caregiver and friend for the last year and a half.
There was a rally for Canadian unity in 1995, and both of her children were unable to attend, although they wanted to. June said, “It doesn’t matter, I’m going, and I’ll have both of you with me regardless.” Well, that runs both ways, and thankfully she will also always be with us: her intelligence, love and generosity of spirit.
In 1986, June’s son was building something and went to bed discouraged. June left a note he found the next morning that read “Be of good cheer, little boy, surely it will work soon. I love you.” Later that day it did work, and forty years later he still has the note. June’s belief in others is humbling.
We are grateful to the staff at Venvi Windsor Park for looking after June these last few months, and at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus for their gentle care in her last week.
A celebration of June’s life will take place at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa) on her birthday, 22 June 2026. Funeral will take place at 10am, followed by a reception from 11am-1pm. Those unable to attend in person, may attend virtually via live stream https://fweb.tv/255880 . The wearing of bright happy colours, including her favourite yellow, will be encouraged.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada or The Dementia Society (June loved their singalongs).
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