June Boswick

Geneva June Cannon Boswick died peacefully while under hospice care in Durham, North Carolina on March 31, 2020. Her daughters, Cathy June Boswick and Jane Boswick Caffrey were holding her hands and she was surrounded virtually via computer by her son John Boswick , her daughter and sons-in-laws, Kate Lyons Boswick, Dan Hickey and Eddie Caffrey, grandchildren Aidan Boswick, Tom Boswick and his wife Jess, Jackie Boswick, and Kiara Boswick and great-granddaughter Annie Boswick when she passed into the Lord’s care. She was 98 years old.

June lived a very full life and was active both physically and mentally throughout her life. The oldest of 10 children, June was born and raised near Carbondale, Illinois. She is predeceased by her mother Iva Mae Chitty Cannon, her father Hershel Cannon, sisters Mrs. Beverly Cannon Smithson and Miss Jannetta Kay Cannon, brothers Mr. Raymond Cannon, Mr. Joseph Cannon, and Mr. Gerald Cannon. In addition to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild she is survived by four of her brothers Mr. Jim Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cannon, and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cannon, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

June briefly had a career as a model before attending and graduating from the University of Southern Illinois, where she met her beloved husband Dr. John Boswick, who predeceased her in 1999. They married in 1949, and in a true partnership raised their 3 children and June’s youngest sibling, Beverly when their mother passed away. John and June travelled extensively throughout the world.

June loved being a schoolteacher in Oak Park, Illinois, before she devoted herself full time to raising her children and volunteering in her community. In 1972 June and her family moved to Denver Colorado where they were very active in Calvary Baptist Church, Artists for America and other Community activities. In 1996 the family moved to Wyckoff New Jersey to be closer to children and grandchildren. She was a member and served on the Board of Trustees of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ridgewood, NJ. In 2015 June moved to Durham, North Carolina where she became a very active member of The Forest at Duke community, and member of Hope Valley Baptist Church.

A born extrovert, June loved to hear the personal stories of those she encountered. She had a gift for listening that made those she met feel special and important to her. June never stopped being both a teacher and a student. Throughout her life she studied foreign languages, cooking, creative writing and painting. Thirty years ago, she started to learn investing in the stock market and became a maven on the subject, tutoring many individuals, starting two investment clubs and managing her own portfolio. She made friends wherever she went and nurtured those friendships throughout her life. She was also a wonderful grandmother who nurtured a strong sense of self-reliance in her grandchildren. A lifelong learner and educator June was well loved and will be greatly missed.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, that donations in her name be made to The Forest at Duke Employee Education Fund, 2701 Pickett Road Durham NC 27705. Services will be held in New Jersey and North Carolina as soon as we can all gather safely together.