June Junie Gilroy Ahner Stewart

June was born in Brooklyn, NY to George W. Ahner and Alice Tufts Ahner on October 4, 1925. Raised in Westchester County, NY, she graduated from high school in Bronxville, NY and later from Lasell College in Newton, MA.

She worked as a copy writer for B. Altman in New York City until she married William F. Gilroy, II in September 1948. The couple made their home in Bedford Village, NY where they raised three sons. Mr. Gilroy passed away in 1961 and her later marriage to Philip R. Stewart ended in divorce.

A lifelong Christian Scientist, June was active in church affairs in New York and Washington, DC where she lived prior to moving to Marblehead in 2006.

Speaking of June's role as clerk at Third Church of Christ, Scientist in Washington DC, a friend said June and the "wonderful maintenance man kept that church going!"

Another acquaintance remarked on hearing of her passing that what she noticed when first meeting her years ago was June's "very beautiful eyes." Seeing June in a recent picture, "brought back the warmth she radiated."

June treasured her time as a volunteer at the White House in The Office of Presidential Correspondence, where she answered calls and letters from those wishing to leave their opinions about current events, attended Rose Garden ceremonies for visiting dignitaries and was on hand during Christmas when the public rooms in The White House were open for tours.

Most recently, she served on the board of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Marblehead.

"Your mom went and blazed the trail for her sisters, and really, the rest of us. How amazing and brave she is!" a nephew of hers wrote to her sons recently, speaking of June's passing.

In addition to her three sons and their wives, Roger W. and Diana L. Gilroy of Jupiter, FL, David S. and Carol T. Gilroy of Solana Beach, CA, and James B. and Meghan Gilroy of Marblehead, she is survived by her three grandchildren, Nicholas, Isabel and Bodhi , her two sisters, Elizabeth A. Fields of Marblehead and Paula A. Snyder of Rutland, VT, as well as four nieces and three nephews.

Widely admired and loved, June was a woman of humor, intellect, kindness and generosity, always genuinely curious in everyone who crossed her path and seeing the best in all. She provided unconditional love to her three sons and celebrated the lives of her three grandchildren. Her extraordinary spirit will endure in all who knew her.

A private service will be held for her in August.