We Remember
KIKUCHI, June Fumiko
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Dr. June Fumiko Kikuchi RN (Ret), PhD Professor Emerita passed away peacefully on Saturday September 6, 2014 at the age of 75 after a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Survived by her loving family: sister Linda Bishop (Bob); brothers Tom Kikuchi and Fred Kikuchi (Kazuko); nieces Elizabeth Kikuchi (John Paul), Allison Finlay (Tom) and Joanna Bishop; nephews Craig Kikuchi (Juliana) and Matthew Bishop (Alexandra); grandnieces Ella Zubec and Audrey Kikuchi; and grandnephew Lukas Zubec. Predeceased by her parents Fujiko and Sadanori and her sister Mary.
Before residing in Lake Country in 2011 to enjoy the mountain views and the Okanagan fruit, June lived most of her life in Edmonton, Alberta where she was a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. June co-founded (with Dr. Helen Simmons) the Institute for Philosophical Nursing Research at the University of Alberta and served as its first Director. In 2004, she was awarded an honorary nursing degree by Laval University for her contributions to nursing philosophy and in 2012 she received the Distinguished Nursing Alumnus award from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. This award recognizes a graduate with outstanding achievements whose noteworthy activity has been recognized in their field and has contributed to the health system through patient care, basic and clinical research, or healthcare oriented services. Recipients have demonstrated the highest principles of the health care professions and served as a role model for current and future health care professionals.
Despite all of her professional success, June’s family most remembers her as “Aunt June”. Aunt June was loving, kind, caring, generous and could always be counted on to support her family. We will miss her.
The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors, medical students and nurses on unit 6 West at Kelowna General Hospital for all the care and attention given to June during her time at the unit. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.” – See more at: http://www.springfieldfuneralhome.com/obituary/
Oh how we will miss our visits with this wonderful woman, I was lucky to spend time with her just last week,she looked so beautiful never would have dreamed this was our last time together .June you will be in my heart forever.Jamie & Rodger
I was saddened to hear of June’s illness and her gentle, private way of dealing with it. So June. I worked closely with June in Alberta, primarily when she was THE EXPERT in Pediatric Nursing….and always enjoyed both her professional knowledge and ways of communicating it as well as her delightful sense of fun and interest in others. The world and nursing was better for her being in it. Thanks June and my sincere sympathy to her family.
I was deeply saddened by the news of June’s quiet death. June and me were at University of Pittsburg for 4 years for our PhD study. I was in Maternity program and June was in Pediatric Progeam. We both were sitting together at Reva Rubin and Florence Erickson’s Seminars. We learnt and shared so much together in those 4 years. I regret very much that she gave me no chance to invite her to come to Taiwan to share her expertise with my nursing colleagues. I miss her so much and will always remember her.
I met June when we became neighbours in Lake Country. I will remember her bright smile, friendly demeanor, curious mind, and sharp intelligence. We enjoyed an afternoon of Scrabble, and had hoped to do it again. June shared some of her strawberry plants with me, and we had quite a few chats over my back fence when she was out pole walking and I was tending the strawberry patch. June will be missed by many of her neighbours. Sending my sincerest condolences to her family and friends.
June,
With your mature intelligence, your truthful compassion, all wrapped up in genuine kindness and topped with wry humour you are quite a package! I didn’t know you for long, but I liked you immediately and I’m never going to forget you.
Sincerest condolences to family and long-time friends.
We didn’t know you that well June, but your happy smile will stay with us forever.
You are in a better place now, enjoy it!
We will miss you walking by our place and the little chats we used to have. I will always remember you in the spring when I put out my hummingbird feeders and put my flowers in the garden
God keep you in peace
June was an intellectual giant in our discipline. So many of us were challenged by her ideas, motivated by her passion for philosophical clarity, and inspired by her commitment to a world in which the ideas of nursing can make a meaningful difference to the health of people and populations. June’s contributions to the development of the ideas that drive disciplinary thought in nursing will long be remembered. She was a model of fearlessness in facing up to controversy and in wrestling ideas to the ground in the interests of intellectual integrity. Canada has lost one of its great nursing thought leaders, and we have all lost a wonderful colleague and friend.
June was a member of the Class of 62 U of T Nursing. We just heard of her passing. So glad she joined us for our 50th yr. reunion in 2012. I will share this sad news with classmates.
June was a close friend of mine at U.of T. She was small in stature but a giant in intellect and heart. After graduation ,she moved away to study and lost tract of each other. I was so glad to see and talk to her at our 50th reunion This is such sad news .Condolences to her family
I just recently learned of June’s passing, and want to pass on condolences to her family back in Ontario. June and I new each other as children many years ago in Winnipeg, and over the years, we lost touch. However we recently reconnected, had a visit and have been e-mailing back and forth. I will miss June’s newsy e-mails and may she rest in peace.