June Marie Chambers Kukura

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” June Marie Chambers Kukura, born on May 31, 1937, went to Heaven for peace and comfort after suffering for several years with various illnesses on July 6th. Mom was born in Scarsdale, NY and was welcomed into the afterlife by her parents, twin sister Joan, infant daughter Rose Ellen, and many other relatives and friends. She was very strong, beautiful, devoted, caring, and loving. Mom loved the color blue, music, singing, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, attending cultural and art events, Blenko, quilts, helping at schools, attending grandchildren’s soccer, basketball, and football games, swimming meets, and chess tournaments, writing poems and acrostics, working on crossword puzzles, making special cards for family and friends, eating chocolate, buying and giving special and beautiful gifts, but mostly she loved her children and grandchildren. Mom volunteered for decades in various positions and levels with community groups and organizations including the Community Music Association, the West Virginia Symphony, Girl Scouts, Birthright, the Walnut Hills Swim Club, the Mount Holyoke College Foundation, and AAUW. Last year she was recognized for her decades of volunteering by the Community Music Association. She also worked as a substitute teacher, tutor, and computer programmer. She is survived by her ever loving husband of 54 years, John Frank “Buddy” Kukura, who took extra special care of her, and their children and grandchildren: daughter Mary and Bob Straw, their children Brendan and Emer; son John and Kelli Hill Kukura, their children Katelin and John Cole; daughter Anne and Roger Burdette, their children Roger and Andrew; daughter Kathryn and Jimmy Sayre, their child Kristen; daughter Alicia and Rick Miles, their children Colin, Morgan, Evan, and Ian; and son Michael and friend Eryn Sutphin. She is also survived by her sisters: Claire and Jim Stanley, Anne and Craig Swanson, and sister in law Barbara Kumpf, nieces and nephews, all of their families, and special friends. She attended Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, the University of Utah, and the College of Saint Mary-Of-The-Wasatch in Utah, where she was the year book editor, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, Mom earned a master’s degree from The West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. The family gives many thanks for the care and attention given to her by the loving assistants, nurses, and staff at Broadmore Assisted Living, especially Carol, and the comfort care provided by the Hubbard Hospice House team. Thanks to Father Pat and Steve Cullen from St. Francis and we give a special recognition of gratitude to Alicia for her extra care and help over the past several years. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations be made to a local Birthright chapter, or St. Francis of Assisi school. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, St. Albans with Rev. Father Patrick M. McDonough as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Scott Depot. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. You may share memories or condolences with the family at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans, WV 25177 is honored to serve the Kukura family.

June Marie Chambers Kukura

May 31, 1937 - July 6, 2015