Junelva Rosemary (Swiercz) Johnson

Junelva "June" Johnson of Paradise Park, Fox Lake, Illinois.

Visitation for June Johnson (84) will be held on Friday, August 24th at 9:30 am at the K.K.Hamsher Funeral Home, 12 North Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, Illinois. A Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bede Church, 36455 N. Wilson Road, Ingleside, Illinois will be celebrated at 11 am immediately following the visitation.

Born April 18, 1928 in Chicago, she passed peacefully away on August 19, 2012 at Paradise Park Assisted Living in Fox Lake.

Surviving is daughter Christine (Christopher) Mathews of Little Rock, Arkansas and son Darral (Barbara Nowosad) Donzal of Fox Lake and her three grandsons, Eric Christopher Mathews of Memphis, Tennessee; Evan John Mathews and Shea Robert Mathews (Sarah Hastings) of Little Rock, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Emily (nee Fryza) Swiercz, her sisters Eleanor Zolecki and Florence Grandinetti.

June was employed by Northwestern Medical School in Chicago where she spent 11 years in the Department of Arthritis. She worked as secretary to Dr. Frank Schmid, the chief of Medicine and Director of Education for the Department of Medicine. During this time she monitored the junior and senior medical students through their curriculum studies. She was instrumental in funding the first Professorship Chair in Arthritis - The Solovy Arthritis Research Society Professor dedicated to a full time research professor developing new strategies and medicines to treat arthritis patients - like her. In 1994 she was recognized by the Department of Medicine for her administrative support of the Undergraduate Medical Education Program and dedication in securing the necessary million dollars to fund the Professorship Chair. She retired from the medical school in 1996.

In her retirement June enjoyed singing with musician Dick Henson in several Chicago area clubs. A lifetime member of the polish Women's Alliance, June took great pleasure in playing Pinochle, Canasta, Scrabble and working crossword puzzles. She cherished the time she had in her flower gardens, both in Chicago and later at Saddle Brook Farm in Grayslake, Illinois. Collecting and researching carnival glass was her passion both locally and when she visited her family out of state. June treasured the time she spent boating and dining with her family and friends and never passed up the opportunity to share in a gin martini when offered.
The family wishes to thank the staff and residents of Paradise Park Assisted Living who welcomed her and cherished her these past two years.