June Roepe Aiken passed into the loving arms of God on August 18, 2018, at the age of 94. She was the daughter of a much admired Lutheran Minister in New Orleans, the Reverend Herbert Roepe and his beautiful wife Lydia Doescher. June was married to the love of her life for 61 years, David Wyatt Aiken, Sr., M.D., a General Surgeon, and they had six children; John Gayle Aiken IV (Adele), Lydia Carolyn Aiken Chesnutt, Susan Aiken Fonger (Curt), David Wyatt Aiken, Jr. (Marilyn), Wyatt Bruns Aiken (Patricia), and Thomas Holcombe Aiken (Christine). All of her children survived her except the best one, Wyatt. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
June was a dynamo of energy. Being a life-long student of the piano, in High-School she won the coveted Interlochen Piano Competition in Michigan, cementing her credentials as a world-class pianist. While in college at Newcomb, she played piano with the New Orleans Symphony, and later with Van Cliburn. After college she was given a contract as a studio pianist at Columbia Records in New York, but when she held her first child (John) in her arms she said she forsook a career as a professional musician to become a full-time mother. After this she and her husband David had five more children which were the love and focus of her life, for which all of those children are eternally grateful.
However, having six children was not enough to keep June busy, so she taught music at Trinity Episcopal School, served as President of the Auxiliary of the Lighthouse for the Blind, the Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan, Le Petit Salon, New Orleans Christian Women’s Club, and Chairman of the Women’s Committee of the New Orleans Symphony. She was also an active member of the Christian Medical Society, the Orléans Club, Quarante Club, and was a founder of Cadenzas.
Few persons have loved and enjoyed life as much as June did, but the constant rudder of her life was an abiding faith in Jesus Christ, and she wishes that her memorial would be that you too, find faith in Him.
Visitation 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 5005 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, followed by a brief Celebration of Life beginning at 11:00 a.m. with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please donate to the organization of your choice.
