June Marie Boswinkle passed away on April 23, 2025, at the Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville, IN. The youngest of seven children, she was born on June 9, 1927, in Marktown, East Chicago, IN, to Harry and Marie Smith. Soon thereafter, the family moved to Highland, where June would live for over 90 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold (Bud); their two sons, Donald and Robert; and her six siblings: Everett (late Thelma, late Susie) Smith; Ardell (late Arthur) Mann; George (late Mildred) Smith; Page (late Faustine) Smith; John (late Connie) Smith; Thomas Smith; and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Smith. June is survived by two grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.

June attended Main School in Highland for grade school and later graduated from Griffith High School. She was very devoted to her Catholic faith. From an early age, she recalled walking with her parents to attend Mass at Our Lady of Grace Parish at the original location on Jewett Street. June continued as an active parishioner of Our Lady of Grace when the new church was built on Highway Avenue. After St. James the Less Parish was established, she attended this church with her brothers, Tom and Page, who were close friends with the first pastor, Fr. Francis Lazar.

June was an accomplished seamstress and painter. Throughout her life, she held a wide variety of jobs. These included being a hair stylist, working in the cosmetics department of Carson Pirie Scott, serving as an operator with the telephone company, and doing office work at Griffith Ready Mix.

June had a great love for dogs, rescuing many over the years. Her home usually included three or four dogs, who became dear family members for whom she had unbounded affection. Having extraordinary compassion for baby animals, June became a licensed wildlife rehabber. Over the course of five decades, she raised and released hundreds of baby squirrels and dozens of wild rabbits, along with a few birds, raccoons, and opossums.

For four years, June volunteered at Hammond Hot Line crisis intervention. She even served as the organization’s treasurer for one term. For many years, she also volunteered at the Humane Indiana PAWS Resale shop in Highland, where her devotion to animals generated income for the Humane Society’s mission to care for shelter cats and dogs.

At June’s request, there will be no services at the funeral home. Following cremation, a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, at St. James Catholic Church in Highland, with her nephew, Rev. David A. Smith, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in June’s name to the Humane Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (humaneindiana.org/donate) or the Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org).