Mother of 18 foster children
Published in the September 2, 2016 edition
MALDEN — June S. (Habblitz) MacGregor, 90, of Malden and formerly of Wakefield, passed away peacefully at the Woburn Nursing Center on Thursday, Aug. 25.
June was born on May 20, 1926 in Winchester, one of two daughters of the late Charles and Mildred (Wanamaker) Habblitz.
She was a graduate of Wakefield High School, graduating with the class of 1944 and for the majority of her 90 years, she resided in Wakefield at her home on North Avenue. Happy and content, June served as a motherly figure to all, sharing her love for life with others and cherishing family time.
June worked as an office clerk at Jordan Marsh for a period of time, but her passion was providing love and care for her foster children. June served as a mother to 18 foster children over her 23 years of service within the Massachusetts program. She was given many difficult foster child situations but always cared deeply for the well-being of the children in her care.
Following her retirement, she received a career award from the foster care program for her nurturing care for 23 years. She then transitioned to being a homemaker and personal care assistant where she continued to provide love and care for others.
June had a very special relationship with her father and loved him dearly. In her younger days as he demonstrated the art of making beer, she inherited his love for German style beer and from then on never turned down an ice cold beer. Blessed with an artistic mind, June had a wide variety of interests. She enjoyed painting, crochet, knitting, stamping, scrapbooking and any other type of art or craft. Earlier in life she was very involved with First Parish Congregational Church and was involved with many holiday craft fairs. Her Wakefield bowling group was very dear to her and provided many fond experiences and friendships.
June’s life was full of challenges yet she was as jovial as anyone on earth. She had a unique ability to overcome adversity and keep peace among those around her. Her dear friends included her plants, her cats Ming, Sarah and Moffie, as well as her dog, Cloe. She was an avid Celtics fan during the glory days of the 1970s and ‘80s and later became a Red Sox fan, before and after the drought was ended. She also loved reading, writing, classical music, theater, nature and her cooking shows. A fierce and avid reader, she always had one of her favorite authors, Maeve Binchy and Debbie Macomber, close at hand. According to June, “there was nothing quite like a good book.”
She had an appreciation for the scenic areas of New England and beyond. Her favorite places were Rockport, Prince Edward Island but she was happiest at home. She hosted many Christmas Eve parties with “thuringer,” a Swedish appetizer, Swedish meatballs, a strong punch and a famous egg nog.
Her loving, motherly ways were shared unconditionally and all of her children meant the world to her. June’s legacy will be her ability to share her love with so many and her impact that will live on for generations.
June was the beloved mother of Louise A. Cline of Gilbert, Ariz., Anna B. Slavin and her partner Pedro Albo of Jamaica Plain and Cheryl Rinaldi and her fiancé George of Lynn. She was the cherished grandmother of Jay Garrett and his wife Lisa of Woburn, Charlie Garrett and his wife Lauren of Watertown and Sean Devlin of Lynn. She was the loving great-grandmother of Julie and Joshua Garrett. Dear sister of the late Nancy Carpenter. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of June during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Sunday, Aug. 28 from 2-6 p.m. and again for her funeral service celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m.
Interment in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.
Gifts in her memory may be made to Mystic Valley Elder Services, 300 Commercial St., #19, Malden MA 02148.
For online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
