June was an artist in all the ways she lived her life, from her treasured relationships to the way she and her partner mindfully curated their home, to the playful and sophisticated aesthetic she brought to her work life. June was raised in Santa Rosa, California and in her 33 years she lived in New York City, San Francisco, Eugene, Portland and finally Santa Barbara, collecting devoted friends wherever she went.
During the last months of COVID in 2020, June discovered a lump in her breast while living in NYC. It was hard to access health care in NYC at that time, and as a healthy 29 year old, the possibility of breast cancer was not on her radar. She was diagnosed with HER2+, ER- breast cancer on New Years Eve of 2020.
June moved to Santa Barbara with her partner to be closer to family and spent the next 4-1/2 years in treatment, with only 6 months of respite. Throughout this entire time, when she was feeling well enough, she worked, she created art, she hiked and played and cuddled with her pug and gathered with her friends and family, she laughed and loved — her quality of life was important to all of us, and we always held out hope that she would somehow continue to hang on to her beautiful life, even with her eventual progression to stage 4. She was so loved, and she knew it. She was peaceful and wise, silly and serious all at the same time. It’s a cliche, but she really did light up a room.
June left behind her beloved college sweetheart and life partner, Zander, her mother and brother, a large family and grieving community committed to preserving her memory and living life as she wanted us to — full of joy and purpose. She joins her father Bill, who passed away when June was 16.
June’s family urges you to donate to Metavivor. Please say her name and tell your special ones that you love them. Each day we have with them is so precious. Thank you.