June Lee Borba

     June was born on April 15, 1962, in Long Beach, CA. She grew up, both in Long Beach and Signal Hill.  At the age of 11 she began to study the Bible, and she attended the Central Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She cherished what she was learning.  She dedicated her life to serve Jehovah God and was baptized at the age of 13.  

     She made many friends during her teenage years.  She was always a source of fun and her imagination and energy were boundless.  After finishing high school she went on to work as a secretary in the emergency room of Memorial Hospital.      

     She was married in 1983.  In the years that followed she gave birth to her two beloved children, Olivia and Wesley.  She loved being a mother and for many years enjoyed being a full-time homemaker, before returning back to the workforce.      

     It was during those years when she was working from home, that she began to study one of her life long passions: midwifery. She tenderly helped many women with their births.  She was a great support, and a wealth of information. She especially enjoyed helping young mothers and those who had little or no emotional support during their pregnancy. She poured herself out to these ones.     June is remembered by them as a precious friend.  She continued to stay close to many of these women for years, providing advice on mothering, and information about important life skills.     

     When her children grew older, June went to work in the Learning Assistance Center, the College of the Arts, and as an Undergraduate Academic Advisor. June loved to help people and students loved her.  She had a trusting way of drawing out her students and helping them to identify the root of their problems. She would then help to set their feet on the path toward graduation, always in a way that left them feeling hopeful and dignified.  Many a student came to her in tears and left with a cup of tea and a word of comfort.       

     June saw life as a great adventure.  She also loved traveling, and was a voracious reader.  She enjoyed gardening and having tea parties with her many friends. Her famous rose garden from the 1990’s is still talked about by her friends today.  She grew many varieties of roses, every color and fragrance. It was a delight to the senses to receive a bouquet of June’s roses.     

     June traveled in recent years to Hawaii, the Fiji Islands and Australia.  She came home with delightful stories…      

     One morning in Fiji she woke up before sunrise and rented a long board.  As the sun began to rise, she paddled out to sea.  There was no one else around.  The sea was calm, warm and crystal clear.  She stretched out on the long board, and dipped her fingers into the water, looking down at the bright corals and many varieties of colorful tropical fish.  She said that this was the most tranquil moment of her entire life and she would never forget it.     

     One of June’s greatest joys was being able to be present with her daughter Olivia for the birth of her grand-daughter Molly.  She was a beloved “Nana”.      

     Over the years June was a member of the Central, Los Altos, Ocean View and Los Alamitos congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  There she was known as a beloved spiritual sister. She conducted many Bible studies.  She was known as being a logical and enthusiastic teacher, who deeply cared about her students and their well-being. She also reached out to the teenagers and young women in the congregation and was there for them as they walked through the various stages of their lives.  Her council was always practical, loving and rooted in the scriptures.  Her words of wisdom will always be treasured by her friends.     

     June believed that Jehovah God; the God mentioned in the Bible, would someday soon, bring an end to all the violence and conflict in the world.      

     Her study of the scriptures showed her that God has a wonderful purpose to restore the earth to paradise conditions, to the way he originally meant the world to be.  This will be brought about through his Kingdom in the Heavens with his son Jesus Christ as King. This is the same Kingdom that many of us pray for in the Lord’s Prayer.     

     This hope is what gave June that special sense of calmness, even in the middle of a crisis.  She always believed that better days were coming.  Her faith was the very cornerstone of her life. 

Here are three scriptures that we know June would like to share with you.  They meant a great deal to her and gave her great comfort:

“By returning to me and resting, you will be saved; Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust…

…He will surely show you favor at the sound of your cry for help; he will answer you as soon as he hears it…

…And your own ears will hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way.  Walk in it,” in case you should go to the right or in case you should got to the left.” (Isaiah 30: 15, 18, 21):

     Her friends and loved ones will always remember the sparkle of benign mischief in her eyes, the spontaneous sense of fun, and her quirky sense of humor.     

     Each of you here today have special memories of June.  Please share below any pictures, happy or poignant memories you have of June with her family and friends.  They will treasure your words and hold them dear to their hearts. Thank you for caring about June and loving her and for being a part of her life.