June E. Hartel

June was a second-grade schoolteacher at Candlewood Lake Elementary School in Brookfield, CT for ten years where she was known for her dedication and devotion to her students. June’s vocation to teach was a calling she felt her entire life. After working in the corporate world for many years, she pursued her lifelong dream even while raising her young child. While working numerous jobs, she returned to college to earn her degree. Perseverance and passion, just two of June’s many qualities so evident in this amazing achievement.

However, June’s greatest achievement was also June’s greatest love, the “Love of My Life” as she so proudly proclaimed and that is her daughter, Madilyn. Together always, “June and Maddie,” they truly loved each other’s company and shared so many of the same interests: love of music, attending Broadway shows, and visiting friends. Most especially, they loved the magic of Disney World, where the outside world faded away and all that mattered was being together.

June loved family, and family included some of her dearest friends. She grew up with all her cousins and loved putting on plays together at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, in which she was always the lead because of her beautiful singing voice. As an adult, June cared for the children in all our families and was always there to support them in their many activities. Throughout her life, June has been a caretaker. She displayed the same qualities with her students: her compassion, her sense of humor, her sense of play – simply put, her love of children. That is why her students loved her. That is why we all love her.

In addition to her daughter Madilyn Carole Hartel, June is survived by her mother, Carole A. Shaw of Southbury, CT; her sisters, Mary K. Shaw of Danbury, CT, and Kristin Karam of Suffield, CT; her brother-in-law, Ted Karam; her nephew and nieces, Joshua, Emily and Grace Karam; her aunts and uncles, Ralph Colombino of Pt. Pleasant, NJ, Geri and David Hutchings of Danbury, CT, Christine and Rodney Lemieux of Yorktown Heights, NY, Lenore Feld of Carmel, NY, and Deborah and John Potter of Poughquag, NY; and many loving cousins. June is predeceased by her grandparents, Mary and Arthur Hartel, her Aunt Vicki Colombino, her Uncle Arthur Feld, and her baby cousin Tyler Lemieux.

Visitation will be held at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT, on August 7, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maddie Hartel at gofundme.com/f/support-maddie-hartel or by searching “Maddie Hartel” at www.GoFundMe.com.