June Mavis DeBono

June Mavis DeBono, age 87 of Sterling Heights, died Sunday, July 19, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 21, 1933 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, daughter of the late Charles Dudley Wilkins Russell, and the late Mary Elizabeth (nee: Howard) Russell.

A loving homemaker to her husband and family of five, June poured her heart into maintaining the comforts of home and hearth for her loved ones. She thrived on keeping a clean home, and hers was exceptionally spotless. As the old adage goes, June “had a place for everything, and everything was in its place.” Structure and order were the mantra she lived by, and she always took great pride that anybody could stop by at anytime and her house was prepared for company. In a phrase, it was always “white glove ready.” Mr. Clean had nothin’ on this lady!

Speaking of white,…that just happened to be June’s favorite color. So much of what she owned, bought and wore were often of the white persuasion. Even at weddings, the bride wasn’t the only one dressed in white. She was such a fan,…for those of you who are unable to attend her visitation or funeral, June will be clad in a gorgeous white dress as she is laid to rest in a beautiful white casket. White was truly the order of the day,…a nice, clean color.

As for favorite pastimes, right there towards the top would have had to have been shopping at Kohl’s. And not merely a semi-regular occasion, but for June it was a weekly one. You see,…every Tuesday she and a friend had a standing date, and Kohl’s was the welcomed benefactor. They were there so often, the cashier’s were like family.

When June’s beloved Vincent was still with us, she and her groom loved tuning in to one of television’s hottest hits, “Dancing With The Stars.” With both possessing a bit of the dancing bug themselves, they were always enthralled by the moves, the judgments, and the elimination process that ultimately produced a winner. She and Vincent were also fans of ballroom dancing, and were often the ones at weddings stealing the show. There’s nothing like watching a couple glide along the dance floor in an effortless motion, but these two could teach a course.

June was also a fan of playing cards, and the name of the game was Euchre. A go-to Michigan favorite, nothing says fun quite like gathering family or friends around the card table, dealing up the cards amidst some friendly banter, then watching the game unfold like a well-oiled machine. The past 3 plus years have been a bit interesting, though. When the phrase is uttered, “What’s trump?”…some wise guy is always prepared with the answer,…the President! (lol)

But though Euchre is often a non-gambling game, June was known for her love of gambling and joining with her friends who boarded the Senior Bus Tours for the trips across the river to our sister city, Windsor. There she enjoyed giving Ol’ Lady Luck a run for her money,…and hopefully didn’t leave much of it behind. Half the fun was in the travel alone. You get a bunch of seniors together for a bus ride into Canada, and there is bound to be a bit of shenanigans to be shared in the process.

You ask anybody in her family, and you are sure to hear that June was their “Rock.” She was the Matriarch,…the Queen,…the Comforter. Even amidst the pain she endured, she smiled like a kid with a new lollipop. She may have been shaken, but she was never moved. June had such a positive outlook on life, it was much of the reason that others sought her wisdom and guidance, and coveted her advice. June will also be remembered for her punctuality, her consideration of others, and staying the course. She liked her routines!

A devout wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, June adored her family, particularly when she was afforded the pleasure of doting on her children,…and especially those precious cherubs, her grandchildren & great-grandchildren. June’s quiver was definitely full, and her blessings were many. She touched countless hearts and souls as she made her way through life, and leaves quite the legacy of love in its wake. May the joy and love she poured into the lives entrusted to her care be reflected back to her as she takes her place in Heaven,…God’s newest angel.

June was the beloved wife of the late Vincent. Dearest mother of Joseph (Mary) DeBono, the late Michael Smale, the late Robert Smale, the late Linda DeBono, and the late Lori DeBono. Loving grandmother of Craig (Stacy) Smale, Cheryl Koehl, Rhonda Laskowski, Jason Smale, Faith DeBono, Scott Lowry, Devawn (Sal) Testagrossa, James Dean, Philip Kalisch, Rachel Trevor, and great-grandmother of John Paul, Cristiano, Jaimie, Lexi, Aiden, Noah, Cameron, and Ethan. June was preceded in death by siblings Euda, Charles, and Winafred Russell.

Visitation for June will be held Thursday, July 23rd from 3-9 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren.

Her Funeral Service will be conducted at 10:00 am on Friday, June 24th at the funeral home. Officiating the service will be Pastor Walter Keller.

Memorial donations are welcomed to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675…or to their website at www.woundedwarriorproject.org  

Please share memories of June at her guest book below.