Obituary for June Perkins (Kinnaird)
With great sadness, June’s family announces her passing at Hilltop House on Nov 18, 2021, in the company of her children, grandchildren, and companions who were with her through the end of her long journey with Vascular Dementia.
Born June Kinnaird in Edinburgh, Scotland in June 1939, June and her mother and brother Frank lived through the war years in close quarters with her grandmother, aunts, and cousins, and found ways to dodge all of the watchful eyes to romp through their close neighbourhood seeking adventure. In 1948, June and Frank flew to Canada to rejoin their mother Jean and her new husband, Bill Spetch, at his home in Creekside, near Mount Currie. They later welcomed a baby brother, Allen.
Living in Creekside, June discovered postwar rural Canadian life. She soon found many new friends and allies, horses to ride and friends to run and have tomato fights with, evading the sharp eye of her mother and stepfather. Never one to shy from mischievous adventure or back down from a challenge, June never let language, culture, or obscure rules get in the way of living. Life in Mount Currie is also where June came to understand the meaning and importance of community. Although later sent off to attend boarding school in Vancouver, June eventually returned to the Pemberton Valley, where she married Phillip Perkins and raised a family of 3 children in a home full of pets of all shapes and sizes, the only prerequisite being no insects or reptiles, no more than 5 cats, and no fewer than 2 dogs, along with a mix of goldfish, budgies, rabbits, sheep, ponies, horses, and a pair of Highland Cows.
June dedicated a lifetime of her considerable energy and enthusiasm to her community. A constant life-long volunteer, June’s was always one of the first hands up to help, and the first hand extended to those in need. Returning to work after raising her family, June had a 17 year career with Canada Post, retiring from her Postmistress position in 2001, and continuing on for many years after retirement to fill in when extra staff was needed. Pre-deceased by her husband, mother, father, step-father, and two brothers, June is survived by her 3 children and 4 grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews who will always remember her generosity of spirit and quick wit.
Kind thanks to Dr. Gerhard Malherbe who fiercely supported June’s need for quality of life, to Patricia King and her companions at For the One You Love for the loving comfort they provided to June throughout her 8 years in LTC, and to Hilltop House staff and management for the personal warmth and caring they bring to their workplace, especially for their heroic efforts to keep their residents safe and happy, going above and beyond to provide the warmth and care in lieu of family and companions during the long months of lockdown. Additional thanks to the McKenzie Family at Squamish Funeral Chapel for their kindness and professionalism.
Born June Kinnaird in Edinburgh, Scotland in June 1939, June and her mother and brother Frank lived through the war years in close quarters with her grandmother, aunts, and cousins, and found ways to dodge all of the watchful eyes to romp through their close neighbourhood seeking adventure. In 1948, June and Frank flew to Canada to rejoin their mother Jean and her new husband, Bill Spetch, at his home in Creekside, near Mount Currie. They later welcomed a baby brother, Allen.
Living in Creekside, June discovered postwar rural Canadian life. She soon found many new friends and allies, horses to ride and friends to run and have tomato fights with, evading the sharp eye of her mother and stepfather. Never one to shy from mischievous adventure or back down from a challenge, June never let language, culture, or obscure rules get in the way of living. Life in Mount Currie is also where June came to understand the meaning and importance of community. Although later sent off to attend boarding school in Vancouver, June eventually returned to the Pemberton Valley, where she married Phillip Perkins and raised a family of 3 children in a home full of pets of all shapes and sizes, the only prerequisite being no insects or reptiles, no more than 5 cats, and no fewer than 2 dogs, along with a mix of goldfish, budgies, rabbits, sheep, ponies, horses, and a pair of Highland Cows.
June dedicated a lifetime of her considerable energy and enthusiasm to her community. A constant life-long volunteer, June’s was always one of the first hands up to help, and the first hand extended to those in need. Returning to work after raising her family, June had a 17 year career with Canada Post, retiring from her Postmistress position in 2001, and continuing on for many years after retirement to fill in when extra staff was needed. Pre-deceased by her husband, mother, father, step-father, and two brothers, June is survived by her 3 children and 4 grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews who will always remember her generosity of spirit and quick wit.
Kind thanks to Dr. Gerhard Malherbe who fiercely supported June’s need for quality of life, to Patricia King and her companions at For the One You Love for the loving comfort they provided to June throughout her 8 years in LTC, and to Hilltop House staff and management for the personal warmth and caring they bring to their workplace, especially for their heroic efforts to keep their residents safe and happy, going above and beyond to provide the warmth and care in lieu of family and companions during the long months of lockdown. Additional thanks to the McKenzie Family at Squamish Funeral Chapel for their kindness and professionalism.