June Beaven
June Beaven, after living a life full of fun and adventure, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023, in her 87th year at the Huron Residential Hospice.
June was born in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom on Aug. 1, 1935. Serving in the Royal Air Force in the Women’s Auxiliary (WAAF), June worked as a Telegraph Operator. It was as a WAAF Officer that she met her lifetime love, Cecil Beaven. Shortly after meeting, they were wed on Jan. 5, 1957, and the two of them settled down in the Cottswolds in England.
After having three children, Rebecca, Richard and Mark, the family immigrated to Canada in April of 1971, settling down in Mitchell, Ontario. June worked in a few positions before she attended Conestoga College where she studied accounting. After earning her diploma, she held positions with WoolCo and Sealed Power, both in Stratford.
After taking early retirement, June focused her efforts on serving in the community both near and far. Volunteering with the Avon-Maitland School Board in Seaforth Public School, “Mrs. Beaven” helped many young children improve their language and math skills both in school and tutoring after school. June also volunteered her time with the Weimaraner Club of America, travelling each year to Ardmore, Oklahoma to serve as the National Field Trial Secretary.
The last years of her life were spent loving her grandchildren and spending every available minute with them. “Granny Beaven” was well known both in Canada and the U.S. from her spending many, many hours cheering on her grandchildren and their teammates in their athletics, especially hockey. Best described as a social butterfly, Granny loved talking and laughing with the kids, and their parents. Even as she lost most of her eyesight, she truly loved spending time at the rink.
Finally moving to Blyth in the summer of 2021, June was able to spend her last months enjoying precious time with her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband Cec in December of 2021 whom she missed each and every day.
She will be remembered by many, but especially by her children Rebecca, Richard and Mark and his wife Janice, her grandchildren Julia, Colton, Travis and Kane and her great-grandchildren Chevy and Layla, along with step-grandchildren Ben, Jared (and Jennifer) and Denise.
While her one long-time wish to see her beloved Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup was not realized, one can be assured she is cheering from above. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to the Alvernia Women’s Hockey team online at auwolves.com, Blyth-Brussels Minor Hockey online at blythbrusselsminorhockey.ca or the sports team of your choice. Go Leafs go!