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June Ella Bourdon

June 9, 1930 ~ February 24, 2014

June Bourdon (also affectionately known as June-bug) passed away February 24 at the age of 83 after a very brief illness.

Saskatchewan, an only child to Evangaline and Herbert Ingram. At the tender age of 12 she met the man she vowed to marry. That man, being 13 years older, told her to come back when she was 18. Unbelievably fate brought them together again in Creston and June married that handsome young man, William Hector Bourdon on June 30, 1951. June became an instant Mom to 11 year old Della. Together June and Bill had five more children – Betty, Bill, Dan, Carol and Harvey.

June received her training as a practical nurse. She also worked in her younger years at the Kootenay Hotel, and the Creston Packing Shed but most of her working career was at the Endicott Centre where she proudly worked her way up to Program Manager before retiring in 1989.

June balanced her working years and raising her children, and those who knew and loved her said she had a flair for the dramatic. She missed her calling as an actress, having loved the spotlight. She had what the family referred to as “the Bourdon sense of humour”, which she passed on to her children but which was something the "children by marriage" were sometimes not privy to. Even her grandchildren inherited that sometimes wicked sense of humour that their Grandma was known for.

June loved to travel, and the family joke was, that if the wheels were turning, Mom/Grandma was in there somewhere. You didn’t dare tell her you were going somewhere and leave her behind. Especially if that place was warm and there were Hot Springs involved. June loved to sing and dance and in later years took up square dancing. She loved to swing those ruffled dresses!

But the most important aspect of June’s life was her family – daughters Della (Roger) Yeager, Betty (Don) Deal, and Carol (Keith) Huscroft along with three sons Bill (Vicki) Bourdon, Dan (Dale) Bourdon, and Harvey (Sharon) Bourdon. June was blessed with fourteen grandchildren: Sandy, Kathy, Jenny, Susan, Rob, Jason, Tara, Adam, Aaron, Curtis, Mike, Danny, Dustin and Tanya. 1978 was a particularly good year in that four of the grandchildren (Tara, Tanya, Curtis and Susan) joined the ever growing Bourdon family. Life was good and was made better over the years with the addition of 29 great-grandchildren!

June’s most outstanding contribution was, along with husband Bill, co-founding the Creston Alcoholics Anonymous recovery group. The fellowship was started February 17, 1960 with only four members – June and Bill Bourdon, and Rod and Charlotte Turnbull. From these humble beginnings, AA became a rock for many people in the Creston community. Starting off small on Saturday nights, June would have coffee, hugs and a message of hope ready for all who needed it. The fellowship grew into four plus groups and a treatment center all carrying the message of sobriety. For 54 years, AA and June, the last living co-founder, made an inviting place for all alcoholics who still suffer. June lived her life by the governing statement of AA members: “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”

Into June’s life of smiles and laughter a little rain must fall, and in 1987 June lost Bill, the love of her life, after 36 years together.

Having been predeceased by her parents, June’s other loss was an infant great granddaughter Isabella Casey in 2003.

A Service was held Monday, March 3, 2014 at G.F. Oliver Funeral Chapel with Pastor Harry Haberstock officiating.

Pallbearers were grandsons Dustin Bourdon, Adam Bourdon and Aaron, Curtis, Mike and Dan Huscroft. Honorary pallbearers include Doreen Cardwell, Merv Goddard, Joe Romanycia, Norm MacDonald, Larry Binks, and Wayne Sorenson who will also do the eulogy for

his long time friend, June.

Memorial contributions can be made to the MS Society or SNAP (Spay and Neuter All Pets).