June Audrey Hermansen

June Hermansen was brought to our Lord Jesus Christ on March 5, 2009 in El Paso, Texas after a long battle with leukemia. She was born on June 5, 1928, in Holyoke, Massachusetts and was raised by her parents, Minnie and Bill Kurth, during the great depression. As a young girl, she made her own clothes and always had a great sense of fashion. She graduated from Holyoke High School in 1945. She then entered Becker Junior College and became a member of the Beta Chi Sigma sorority. She graduated in the class of 1947 with an Associate’s Degree in Science and Medical Records. She paid for her own education completely by cleaning peoples’ houses. After college she worked at Bingham Associates Laboratory of Pathology at Holyoke Hospital for 4 years and then worked as medical record librarian for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. She married Kay Hermansen on July 5, 1952. During their early years of marriage, she worked nights at Providence Memorial Hospital while Kay worked days. They then started their family of 3 children they would lovingly raise. Upon moving to this city she took a job at the El Paso Cancer Treatment Center, becoming supervisor of medical records. In 1975 she became Director of the Tumor Registry, managing a large department. Through her work many facts about cancer have been discovered. She was always developing her career, and received the ART designation for medical records technicians after studying for 2 years. But throughout her career and marriage, her family and close friends remained her focus. She cared for the old and young of our extended family and always hosted the big family and neighborhood get-togethers at her home. She was always cooking and maintaining her beautiful home for everyone to visit. The passions of her life were reading books, which she instilled in her children, gardening, cooking, Cape Cod, decorating her beautiful home, watching sports, especially basketball, art, quilting, magazines, the TPWA and her book club. The loves of her lives were her family and many friends and neighbors. She was especially devoted to her grandchild Kristen, who she raised as her daughter. She also cherished her second grandchild Catherine. June was preceded in death by her beloved husband and soulmate, who died exactly two weeks ago. She leaves behind her daughter Andy and son Bill and companion Karen of this city; son Bob and wife Jeanie of Austin, Texas; two beautiful grandchildren, Kristen and Catherine; and her loving dog Keely. She is also survived by her sister Shirley, niece Carol and husband Bill, great nephew Jamey and wife Robin, and nephew Rick and companion Pat. A special thanks to Dr. Chesbro and Martha Boyle. Visitation for June will be Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home-West. Funeral service will be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Western Hills United Methodist Church. Internment to follow at Memorial Pines Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to Sunset Funeral Home-West or a donation may be made in her name to The V Foundation supporting cancer research. Mom, Grandma, Auntie June, thank you for all the love you shared, the family you built and nourished and the joy you gave everyone you encountered. You are forever in our hearts, our prayers and on our minds. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net