June L. Wiltfong

June L. Wiltfong died peacefully in her sleep at her care facility on Friday, July 7, 2017.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Don L. Wiltfong; her siblings, Wallace Aldrich, Paul Aldrich, Velma (Aldrich) Wharton, and Shirley (Wisenbaugh) Konicke; as well as her parents, Hazel Aldrich Wisenbaugh and Edward Aldrich.

June is survived by her daughters, Linda (Fred) Isban, Julie Long, and Cindy (Robert, Jr.) Frame; seven grandchildren, Deborah Jeffares, Stephen (Michele) Isban, Jill (Daniel) Long de Mercado, Anne (Thomas) Gangwer, Emily Long, Laura Baumgart (Ben Jones), and Robert Frame, III; and seven great-grandchildren, Maxim and Aydrie Isban, Morgan and Addison Baumgart, Elias, Keeland, and Yorick Gangwer.

She and Don were lifelong South Bend residents before selling their home in 1977 and moving to Big Fish Lake in Marcellus, Michigan.  The lake was where the family vacationed every summer.  In 1984, they moved back to South Bend.

While her children were growing up, June was a stay-at-home mom, a phrase that hadn’t been coined yet.  Over the years, she volunteered with the American Red Cross and the former Norman Beatty Mental Hospital in Westville, IN.  During the years Memorial Hospital’s coffee shop was staffed by volunteers, she offered her services there.  When St. Margaret’s Day Shelter for Women opened, she saw a new volunteer opportunity and could be found preparing lunch for guests at the shelter every Wednesday.  Her salmon patties were a favorite with the women coming for lunch. Other organizations with which she volunteered were the College Football Hall of Fame and the South Bend Airport Visitors Center.  As one of the two oldest members of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, she participated in St. Anne’s Guild, Friends of Martha, and with the team that folded bulletins each week and prepared the church’s monthly newsletter.

In her 80’s, June decided she needed something new to keep her busy, so she began working part-time at Express Press.  She enjoyed a wonderful camaraderie with her fellow workers.

She and Don were lifetime members of the American Turners and bowled for years in leagues at the organization’s original location on North Michigan Street near Memorial Hospital.  On Saturdays, she could be found tailgating at Notre Dame football games with family and friends at marker number eight in the Purcell Pavilion parking lot.  It was only when navigating the stairs at age 88 became difficult that she relinquished her seat.

June continued living independently at Fairington Apartments where she made friends with a group of women who lived in her building.  The “lunch bunch” and Rick watched out for Mom and made sure she made it to the clubhouse where Meals on Wheels delivered lunch.  Bingo on Tuesdays was also a part of her life there. In late April, she needed to transition to assisted living. With Emee Miller’s help, we found a residential care facility that was as close as Mom could get to still being in a home environment and have care-givers to assist her.

The family would like to thank Emee for connecting us with Darden Place; Mom’s care-givers, Paul, Jennifer, Shareen, and Brittany; Heartland Hospice staff; and Dr. Alfred Cox, her physician for over 40 years.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 4:00-7:00p.m. at Palmer Funeral Home-Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend.  Funeral services will take place at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 53720 North Ironwood Road, South Bend on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 11:00a.m.  There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Michael’s Altar Guild, 53720 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635; Meals on Wheels, 121 W. Garst Street, South Bend, IN 46601; Heartland Hospice, 230 W. Catalpa Drive, Suite D, Mishawaka, IN 46545; or donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left for the Wiltfong family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

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