June Bardel Menegus, 90, of Spring Hill, Florida, passed away on Sunday, May 15. She was born to George Stich and Helen (nee Gagnon), on 06/30/1931 and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.

She graduated from Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ  in 1947.

She went on to study Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated with a Master’s Degree from Montclair State College in Guidance.

She received her EdS from Seton Hall University in Counseling.

June worked as a Guidance Counselor for 30 years and retired from Hawthorne High School in 1996 and moved from Clifton, NJ to Spring Hill, FL.

She was a tireless advocate for her students.

She enjoyed volunteering, tennis, golf, skiing, shuffleboard, travel and her family.

Her passion seemed to be her love of the water from her summers at Lake Hopatcong when she a young girl, teaching swimming lessons in her backyard, Her years in the Aquacons synchronized swimming team, and her many happy years at the Montclair Beach Club. In recent years she enjoyed teaching her great granddaughters the art of water ballet and teaching water aerobics at the Timber Pines Country Club.

June was best known for her beautiful smile, her lifelong love of learning, her devotion to her Catholic faith, her pride in every child and grandchild’s achievements. She could be seen at many a graduation or recital with perfectly matched outfits, sunglasses and purses. Even trying to match outfits for her husband and all family photos seemed to be orchestrated by the colors she loved.

June met David Menegus in 1978. They were married on March 27, 1986.

June is survived by her children, Jacqueline Van Gelderen of Holmdel, NJ; Jeanne Bardel of Sarasota, FL; Rene G. Bardel, Jr  .(LoriAnn)  of Tampa, FL and Robert Bardel of Lutz, FL. 9 Grandchildren. Jeffrey, Justin, Ryan, Ashley, Rene Adam, Jordan, Evan, Brandon and Ava. 3 Great Granddaughters, Morgan, Madison and Adalynn. Her sister Jacqueline Childress of Lake Mary, Florida.

June, was a pioneer in perfecting the art of the “Blended Extended Family” as she loved, spending time with her stepchildren and their children, in-laws and their families who all became  part of her family, never forgetting a birthday or anniversary. A phone call to sing happy birthday and a note to remind them that she was thinking of them . Her Christmas letters and Photo cards were a part of her “family Christmas tradition” .

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David , baby Raymond, and her closest friend and sister-in-law Peggy .