June Brett July 3, 1938 - August 9, 2011

BRETT, (Bette) June (nee Sellar) July 3, 1938 - August 9, 2011 June died Tuesday evening of lung cancer. She was at home, cared for by her family as we all wished. We will remember her as a loving partner, good companion and engaged friend. From her early life, June had two sons, Kevin and Duncan, a daughter Heather, and grandchildren Ethan, Jesse and Alexis. For the last 31 years, she shared her life in Guelph with Mary Ann. Following cremation, Family will receive at St. Matthias Anglican Church, 171 Kortright Road West, Guelph, N1G 4WZ on Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 13th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Owl Foundation of Ontario or St. Matthias. GOODBYE, MY GIRL 


 From Hazel Cook
Long time CPS member June Brett sadly passed away on August 9, 2011 of lung cancer.  A stalwart supporter of the Society, of peonies, and of all things horticultural, June was, as her obituary said, a loving partner, good companion and engaged friend.  Our condolences go out to CPS Vice-President, Mary Ann Robinson, with whom she shared her life for 31 years and to June's children, Kevin, Duncan and Heather, and to her grandcholden.

Joe and I first met June Brett and Mary Ann Robinson in our garden for an Ontario Delphinium Club field day in 1999.  We would bump into one another very occasionally, always around a gardening theme.  We also found common clubs such as the Ontario Rock Garden Society, which met in Toronto, conveniently a halfway point.

A real turning point was when we jointly purchased the Gilbert Collection of peonies.  An entire week of digging and dividing roots - 'The Big Dig' - was centered at June and Mary Ann's home in Guelph with many friends and family.  By this time, Joe and June had discovered a mutual fondness for a 'Sleemans' beer.

June's sunny disposition and organizational skills were always present.  We learned much about the world through their extensive travels and also our excursions together, many of these included gardening, especially peonies at CPS events in Ottawa, Montreal, Hamilton and at Reford Gardens.  We were always amazed at June's driving skills.

Gardening consumed our visits, but we did gradually learn bits and pieces about their families and past.  Many items in their home showed their love of antiques, collectables, figure skating, birds, especially owls, and treasures from June's childhood, raised as an only child out west.  It was, however, not until her funeral that we discovered that June had won a city wide yo-you championship as a child.  How we wished we had witnessed her many tricks.  Her determination and love of competition also finally won her the Court of Honour for her entry of 'Raspberry Sundae' in Oshawa at the 2010 CPS Convention.

June always smiled even through tough times such as her hip replacement and several battles with cancer,  making it so much easier to visit and care for her.  We definately miss June Brett but also can hear an echo of her voice telling us to 'suck it up, Buttercup`.