Our mom, June Lathrop was a free spirited, fun loving, anything you’d like to do is fine with me kind of woman. June was born in Toronto, Canada in 1927. She lived on the Danforth with her mom and dad and brother. Her family was hard working, and hard playing. Her dad worked at the print shop his family owned. June loved everything. She especially loved skating at the local rink. June went there every chance she had. She loved getting away from her household strife and just skating in the wind. It was there many years later that she would meet her soulmate. Don Lathrop, fresh from the navy and still in his bright white Navy uniform. Mom said over and over to us over the years, ” I saw him and I JUST HAD TO HAVE HIM!!” They were married and spent 63 years together and had two children. Mom was one of the first “working women” during the 50s. She would pack us up in the car early in the morning, drive us to our grandmother’s house in the city and then come back and pick us up . She then had to come home to cook dinner, sew herself a new dress, style her own hair and take care of a husband and two boys. When June’s dad and mom in Canada needed help with senior housing, mom drove to Toronto, found a great place for her parents, cleaned their house from top to bottom all by herself and then sold it herself. She did this all in the space of two weeks. She was an unflappable woman. Mom and dad were avid outdoors people. Fishing was one of Don’s and June’s loves. They would fish everywhere they could. Their favorite spot was Omemee Canada, where they would fish for the elusive muskellunge. June was a fantastic fisherwoman and she also had another specialty, horseshoes. Don was a master at it and taught her every secret to throwing the perfect shoe. At their horseshoe tournaments all the men (she was the ONLY woman ) fought to have her for their partner. Together they carved out a life together , living the love of the outdoors and music. June loved dixieland jazz and would dance and sing at the drop of a hat. Don was also a huge jazz fan and they toured the country every year seeking out new hotspots. JUne always had to sit as close to the piano player as she could wherever they went. June danced, sang, and clapped to any kind of music right up to the day she passed . June’s true love was her grandchildren, Michael, Kathryn and Kristin. The moment they got home from one of their adventures, the phone would ring and a bright voice would ask if anyone needed a babysitter. June always said those three kept her young and adventurous in her later years. I wish everyone could have had the pleasure of meeting her. She was a spectacular woman and we will all miss her terribly. love you mom
Our mom, June Lathrop was a free spirited, fun loving, anything you’d like to do is fine with me kind of woman. June was born in Toronto, Canada in 1927. She lived on the Danforth with her mom and dad and brother. Her family was hard working, and hard playing. Her dad worked at the print shop his family owned. June loved everything. She especially loved skating at the local rink. June went there every chance she had. She loved getting away from her household strife and just skating in the wind. It was there many years later that she would meet her soulmate. Don Lathrop, fresh from the navy and still in his bright white Navy uniform. Mom said over and over to us over the years, ” I saw him and I JUST HAD TO HAVE HIM!!” They were married and spent 63 years together and had two children. Mom was one of the first “working women” during the 50s. She would pack us up in the car early in the morning, drive us to our grandmother’s house in the city and then come back and pick us up . She then had to come home to cook dinner, sew herself a new dress, style her own hair and take care of a husband and two boys. When June’s dad and mom in Canada needed help with senior housing, mom drove to Toronto, found a great place for her parents, cleaned their house from top to bottom all by herself and then sold it herself. She did this all in the space of two weeks. She was an unflappable woman. Mom and dad were avid outdoors people. Fishing was one of Don’s and June’s loves. They would fish everywhere they could. Their favorite spot was Omemee Canada, where they would fish for the elusive muskellunge. June was a fantastic fisherwoman and she also had another specialty, horseshoes. Don was a master at it and taught her every secret to throwing the perfect shoe. At their horseshoe tournaments all the men (she was the ONLY woman ) fought to have her for their partner. Together they carved out a life together , living the love of the outdoors and music. June loved dixieland jazz and would dance and sing at the drop of a hat. Don was also a huge jazz fan and they toured the country every year seeking out new hotspots. JUne always had to sit as close to the piano player as she could wherever they went. June danced, sang, and clapped to any kind of music right up to the day she passed . June’s true love was her grandchildren, Michael, Kathryn and Kristin. The moment they got home from one of their adventures, the phone would ring and a bright voice would ask if anyone needed a babysitter. June always said those three kept her young and adventurous in her later years. I wish everyone could have had the pleasure of meeting her. She was a spectacular woman and we will all miss her terribly. love you mom