JUNE ALLISON BUDD

June 2, 1925 - Oct. 9, 2008

June left this world to take her place with our Lord in Heaven after a long, hard-fought battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig’s disease. She passed on in her apartment at the Silver Springs Assisted Living Facility in Green Valley with family by her side on Oct. 9, 2008. June was a very special lady. She was especially known for her determination to live, her neverending positive spirit, an incredibly forgiving nature, a love and compassion for others, a willingness and desire to help others in need, and for her wonderful sense of humor and quick wit even in the face of adversity.

Born on June 2, 1925, in Milwaukee, Wis., the daughter of Walter W. Beckard and Helyn (Leist) Beckard, June graduated from Rufus King High School in 1943 as the class Salutatorian. She went on to become Valedictorian of her nursing class, receiving her RN diploma from Chicago University Hospital. June had many wonderful stories to tell of her time in nurses training as well as first job following as a visiting nurse with Sears and Roebuck. She simply loved helping others and others surely loved her in return.

In WWII, June enlisted in the Cadet Nurse Corps and served from 1944-1947 while in taking at University Hospital in Chicago, Ill. and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Ill. June met her first husband Dr. Robert Henry Allison (deceased 1975) while she was still in training and he was still in medical school. They married in 1948 and made their first home outside of Chicago, in Warrenville, Ill., where Bob started his first private medical practice in the 1950s.

In the early 1960s, they moved with their three children to Elburn, Ill. where they remained until 1972. It was then that June and Robert moved to Morganfield, Ky. for a semi-retirement where June worked as a public health nurse for the Union County Clinic. In 1972, they relocated to Hoopeston, Ill., where Robert joined a clinic of international doctors.

Following Robert’s death, June returned to nursing, working as a visiting nurse in charge of the Home Health Aids of the Vermillion County Health Department. The favorite part of her work involved caring for paraplegics and quadriplegics in their homes, though she later commented she never envisioned that she herself would one day find herself in their position.

In 1977, she headed west to Denver, Colo. where she joined her daughter, Lorelei, who was studying music at the time. The two of them lived together and loved life to the fullest as college roommates, helping each other make it to the finish line by proofing each other’s work while attending two different colleges. June completed a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at Colorado Women’s College while in her 50’s, inspiring many while at the same time making many wonderful new friends. Following graduation, she became night supervisor in charge of nursing at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver. It was also in Denver that she met her second husband Harrell Budd (deceased 1989), a geologist. They were married in 1986 in Kauai, Hawaii, then moved to Green Valley to start a make their home and begin a new life together.

June is survived by three children: David John Allison a paralegal and Methodist Lay Minister currently residing in Denver; Suzannah Allison DeSousa, a world traveler and international teacher currently teaching Culinary Arts in Bagdad, Ariz.; and Lorelei Allison Conrad, a retired US Naval Officer, Navy bandmaster, trumpeter, conductor, and most recently an RN who resides in Green Valley along with her husband Raymond H. Conrad, also a professional trumpeter and retired U.S. Navy musician and Maryland Special Police Officer.

June leaves behind one sister Gloria B. Bonesz, also of Green Valley, who is known for her work as Comptroller for the Chicago advertising firm, Weber, Cohen, and Riley, and as head of the quilters of the Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior and former GVR swimnastics instructor. June is also survived by her very dear cousin and cherished friend, Margot FŸller of Kronberg, Germany.

June leaves behind four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They are Vasco DeSousa and his wife Rosina of Abeystwyth, Wales, UK, along with their four children Oscar, Joseph, Hannah, and Esperanca; Dr. Alexandra A. DeSousa and her husband Dr. Michael Proulx of London, England and their two daughters Isabella and Helena; Andrew DeSousa and his wife Aya Octaviani along with their daughter Radina who are all living in Borneo, Indonesia; and Dr. Sarah O. Allison and her husband Paul McGuire who reside in Champaign, Ill. Additionally, she leaves behind four more grandchildren from marriage to Harrell Budd, and many, many wonderful friends throughout the country and abroad, including her longtime companion and dear friend George Friley of Green Valley.

June was an active volunteer in many organizations throughout her life including organizations such as the Geneva Community Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, the Wheaton Weeds, the Eight Ball Committee, the American Heart Association, the Elburn Elementary PTA, the Junior Girl Scouts as Troop #44 Leader in Kaneville, Ill, among many others. She loved learning and loved to travel the country and around the world. June also loved going for a walk with friends and family, hiking, bowling, and was active in Jazzercise and Swimnastics when it was still possible for her to do so. She never passed up an opportunity to sing, or dance, and loved spending time with her family and friends. It was a joy and pleasure for her to go to church and loved being a member of the Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior.

A memorial service in June’s honor will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at 10 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior located at 555 S. La Canada Dr., Green Valley. Reception will follow in the church’s fellowship hall. Additionally, family and friends are invited that same afternoon at 1 p.m. to come to Silver Springs Assisted Living at 500 W. Camino Encanto, Green Valley, to join together for a celebration of “June’s Life Story.” This event will be held in the Family Room affectionately known as the “Bird Room.” All who can are come are invited to share their favorite stories and memories of this amazing woman’s life on earth.

Donations in memory of June may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, the Muscular Dystrophy Association/ALS Division of Tucson or to the charity of one’s choice.