June Magda Lusth Tucci

Pownal – June Magda Tucci, 92, of Pownal, died unexpectedly with her family at her side on Saturday October 18, 2014 at Parkview Hospital in Brunswick. She was born in Portland on July 20, 1922, the second of seven children of Magda (Nelson) and John Lusth. She was educated in South Portland schools and in 1940 she married Anthony Tucci and together they had five children.

June surrounded herself with textures, fragrances, shapes and symmetry – sea shells, stones picked up here and there, green glass bottles. She wrote them into her published poetry such as, “a bother of bottles” or “rings the round, round rose”, her ode to old-fashioned roses like the ones she grew that were favored in seafaring times.

She loved all things Celtic and claimed in her Swedishness to be “Viking Irish”. Wherever she went she wore her brown cowboy hat, peace sign pendant and a ready smile for anyone. In her love of accents and friendly conversation, she often asked, “Do you mind if I ask you your nationality?”

Insects found inside the house were gently captured and released outside – as she loved all creatures. She hated the Vietnam War and set aside her alpine gardening and rose growing and became an anti-war activist, proud that she had once been briefly jailed for protesting.

Later life gave her the rest that women of her era richly deserve after years of child-rearing and homemaking. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles, movies, going to the Freeport Elders with her beloved companion, Everett, and playing lots of bingo.

June is survived by her children: Michael Tucci; Claudia Tucci and her husband Marvin Toleson; Peter Tucci and his partner Sandi Smith; Carlo Tucci and his partner Nancy Letteney Grant; her sisters: Helen Schwarz and Marie Lusth-Winn; her companion Everett Thurlow; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren with another on the way; two great-great-grandchildren and a large extended family. June was predeceased by her husband, Tony the Barber, in 2001 and her daughter, Lucille Tucci-Craven, in 2000.

A private graveside service will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Pownal. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of June’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with her family.