June Elich
June Elich of Albion, NY, passed away peacefully at East Side Nursing and Rehabilitation on Sun., Jan 17, 2021 following a brief illness. June was just shy of her 90th birthday.
June was born Feb. 4, 1931 to Clarence and Ethel Fernaays in Webster, NY. June and her siblings learned the value of hard work as they grew up part of a farm family in Webster and later Williamson NY. After graduating from Webster High School in 1949 she went on to work for General Motors until retirement.
In 1960, June married Alexander Elich who together enjoyed the parenting of three children, welcomed six grand-children and 10 great-grandchildren to their family. Together in the 1960s they bought a farm on Transit Road and developed Twin Lakes Campground. Being in a good location for travel along Lake Ontario this delighted many local campers as well as thru campers traveling in NYS. June enjoyed many fond memories and friendships from this endeavor.
Among the many activities that June enjoyed was belonging to the TWIG group at Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital. With concerns about the landfill that came to Orleans county, June joined Stop Polluting Orleans County (SPOC) where she served as treasurer for several years.
In her leisure time June was an avid square dancer making many of the swirling dresses that were part of this activity. Camping with friends of a camping trailer group, Carriage Carri-Lite, she made many friends as they traveled together around the country. Of particular delight, was playing cards with friends and family, Euchre being a favorite. Taught to crochet by her mother, June made many beautiful crochet pieces, baby blankets and afghans that she gave as gifts to others. Her love of working on craft projects has been passed down to others in the family as well.
Her greatest pleasure was in being with family. Her brothers and sisters were very close growing up and visited together often. Especially important were her grandchildren and her beloved great-grandchildren. They brought her such joy and filled her later years with so many good memories.
June was predeceased by her parents; sisters: Ruth Pieters and Shirley Hergert; and brothers: Howard, Russell, Ralph (Bob) Fernaays. She is survived by sisters: Arlene (Rudy) Youngman, Nan (Isaac) DeWispelaere; brother, Donald (Janet) Fernaays; her children: Linda (Michael) Satterthwaite, Tim (Carole) Grooms and Gary Elich; grandchildren: Lisa, Kyle, Jill, Stephanie, Melissa and Tayler; as well as great-grandchildren and several cousins and other relatives from the Dickinson family.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Salmon Children’s Foundation, PO Box 187, Albion, NY 14411; or to Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter, friendsoftheocas.org. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc. Albion. To share a special memory of June, please visit: www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com
