June G. Wittfoth

Biddeford

June Geraldine Wittfoth, 87, of Biddeford, Maine, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

June was born on June 1, 1935 in Belleville, Illinois, a daughter of John and Mary (MaGeean) Sorkach.  She attended Belleville Township High School and graduated with the Class of 1953. She then attended nursing school in Alton, Illinois, and while attending, she met and married her beloved husband, Donald S. Belanger in 1956.  They began their life together in Springfield, IL where they lovingly raised their son John.  While living in Springfield, June began her nursing career.  They relocated to Fort Wayne, IN for a few years, then in 1963 moved to North Reading, MA where June worked as an operating room nurse at Lynn Union Hospital for almost 20 years.  After the passing of her husband Donald, in 1977, June eventually met and married Jerome "Jerry" Wittfoth in 1981.  June moved to Waynesville, Ohio with Jerry where she worked part-time at the Cincinnati Zoo.  They then moved to Lithonia, GA in 1989 where June resumed working as a triage and O.R. nurse at the Monroe County Hospital.  In 2002, they moved to New England, to be closer to her son, John, and his family, and they finally settled in Biddeford, Maine.

Throughout her life, June was an avid reader and enjoyed reading biographies, history, and true-life mysteries, but also loved spy and detective novels, and especially stories with witty and humorous characters.  In Biddeford, she volunteered at the Hospice Used Bookstore, and when it permanently closed, June was always giving away bagfuls of books, in order to make room on her shelves for new ones.  Not one to be idle, June began working part-time at Kohl's.  Always an early riser, she worked early mornings and was frequently unloading stock trucks, which she did until she was 81-years-old.

June enjoyed travelling and was able to visit Germany, England, Amsterdam, and South America with her husband, Don, as well family visits to California, St. Louis, and Illinois.  She also loved the beach and took numerous trips to the Caribbean, travelling to the Cayman Islands a few times with her husband, Jerry.  She frequently spoke of the trips she made to Hawaii to be with her son, John, and his family, while he was stationed there in the Marine Corps.  She loved the warm, beautiful beaches, the history, and most importantly the opportunity to enjoy being there while spending time with her grandchildren was a highlight of her life.  She happily made the 12-hour trip from Massachusetts to be present for the birth of her grandson, Steven, and to help take care of her granddaughter, Rhiannon.  June was also able to travel and visit John and his family in Daytona, Florida numerous times while they resided there.  Despite the geographical distances, she maintained a close connection with them and was always able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with them.  Her love for her grandchildren was central to her life, and she generously took them, as young adults, to visit her brother in Okinawa in 2002.

Living in Biddeford, in her semi-retired years, June enjoyed her family time and felt especially lucky to enjoy time with her great-grand-children, Marisa, Tyler, Aliyah, and Lilliana.  Summers, she enjoyed floating in her pool reading, and loved to cook, making her signature fried chicken and pot roast dinners whenever family came to visit.  She also had a tremendous love for animals, and especially dogs.  She had numerous dogs of her own over the years, and later she welcomed the role of having grand-dogs, and her house became the home-away-from-home for her son's two Beagles and her great-grand-dogs also, who she dog-sat frequently, often for a week at a time.

June's caring and generous heart was known and loved by everyone who knew her.  She was always ready to help out and always welcomed all of her family to her home whenever they wanted to come by to visit.  She kept close connections to all of her family, near and far, and she especially shared a close and loving connection with her sister, Jessie.  June will be truly missed by her family and by all who knew her.

June is predeceased by her first husband, Donald Belanger who passed in 1977; her sister MaryAnn Beardsmore; and her brother John Sorkach.

June is survived by her husband Jerry Wittfoth; her son John Belanger and his wife Debbie; her granddaughter Rhiannon Rossi and husband Scott with children Marisa and Tyler; her grandson Steven Belanger and wife Lory with children Aliyah and Lilliana.  She is also survived by her sister Jessie Helm of Springfield, IL and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 1PM-3PM on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, 87 James Street, Saco. Burial will occur later the following week in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.