June D. (Phillips) Burich

Laurium - June "Ducky" Diane Louise (Philips) Burich oh the lives she has touched... June attended local schools including John Duncan, Charles Briggs, Washington Middle School and Calumet High School, where she graduated in 1946, continuing to live the class motto of "a quitter never wins and a winner never quits".  June had so many special friends to name them would be as to name all the stars in the universe (know you ALL hold special meaning with Prayers and Love forever.)  June played second baseman on the Waarala Drug softball team, where she was known as a special player, making many double plays in her career.  Unfortunately, her softball career ended tragically, while trying to "steal" and extra base, she collided with the shortstop and her kneecap split and splntered.  June worked various jobs as a teenager on into her adult life including Columbia Laundry, where she folded and packaged Ford Motor Company towels, Ben Franklin Department Store where she was a register clerk, People's Theatre where she worked as a ticket taker and popcorn girl, (this is where she met Anton) .  After graduating she worked as a telephone switchboard operator, working in the Calumet Central Office.  June married the love of her life on April 21, 1951 in Fort Belvoir, VA.  Anton was in the Army.  After starting a family of her own, at the time of 5 children, June talked with her husband about taking in preschoolers.  Her husband backed her decision and together they signed up to be foster parents, as he continued his many jobs outside the home as well.  The very first child she was asked to take care of was a six month old child with Downs Syndrome.  She did not hesitate, yet cared for over 25 years of ALL children presented to her between the ages of three days and old right up to a child turning 18.  (For more information you may read some articles by Gordon Jaehning, local historian/writer.  The Daily Mining Gazette printed these on Dec. 10, 2019 through Dec. 13, 2019).  In her prime June was known as "Mother Theresa of Laurium".  One would think she had no time for anything else, well... you're about to see, she didn't stop there. June was actively involved everywhere, including but not limited to:  June was raised a Methodist, and learned her books of the Bible in the Baptist Church.  She attended the Roman Catholic Church and know this is where she  belonged.  On October 20, 1960 (that is 60 years ago this month) June was confirmed into the Roman Catholic Church and was a firm believer and shared her faith and religion openly and was proud to have been able to be a religion teacher for over 40 years at the Sacred Heart Church in Calumet.  June was a high supporter/promoter of the cause for sainthood to now Venerable Bishop Baraga for over 60 years, as well as the founder of Bishop Baraga Birthday Club, to whom she shared her birthday.  June was a member of the Keweenaw Catholic Community, National Catholic Society of Foresters, Sacred Heart Court #517 and CLK VFW Auxiliary Post 3900 over 50 years, Daughters of Isabella, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, Slovenian Union of America, CLK Senior Citizens, life member of Keweenaw Kernewek, MI Bell retiree group, multiple prayer groups, co-founder of United Hearts of Jesus and Mary Rosary Group and the Keweenaw Catholic ProLife and family Council.  active politically and in community affairs, did many volunteer years of different work in th CLK Public and Sacred Heart Central Schools, RCIA, choir, communion minister, lector, Renew Evangelization projects, on parish council, MDCCW, America needs Faima, EWTN, the Passionists, Houghton Keweenw Genealogical Society, Keweenaw County Historical Society, Presentation Ministries, (of which she handed out every month the 2 month daily prayer, One Bread One Body booklets)  Keweenaw Cooperative Enterprises, American Free Press, and a good Donald Trump supporter from day one, always a true lover, one did not agree with her, she just left it as "we agree to disagree"  conversation, and love everyone equally as God loves.  

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