June Kelley Pierce

June Kelley Pierce, 77, of Hyde Park, New York, passed away, surrounded by family and friends on Monday, December 30, 2024, after a long, courageous battle with heart disease.
June was born in Massena, New York on February 12, 1947, the oldest child of the late William and Theresa (Trudell) Kelley. June graduated from Madrid-Waddington High School in 1965 and moved to Key West to pursue a career in fashion design. Within a year, she changed course and returned to Northern New York to reunite with her high school sweetheart, Bernard Pierce. On July 29, 1967, they were married and moved to the Hudson Valley, first living in Hyde Park and later moving to the town of Poughkeepsie. She was married to Bernie for 45 years until his passing in 2012.
As June would say, she never rested on her laurels. She received degrees in both Psychology and Sociology from Mount St. Mary College and her master's degree in K-12 Education, Special Education and Science.
June's love for teaching was only equal to her love for children. She taught Grades 3-5 for ten years in the New Paltz Central School District until she retired in 2007 and continued to teach, tutoring young children at her home for over a decade.
June was a creative visionary with an energy, passion and self-discipline that made her unstoppable. Her talent traversed so many areas of expertise, that she could truly be called a Renaissance woman.
As an accomplished, life-long artist of Early American and European Folk Art and Restoration, June perfected her skill throughout Europe, traveling to Russia, Germany, and England. She was a member of the Historical Society for Early American Decoration and took the greatest pleasure in teaching her craft in her beloved studio for nearly 45 years. June often humbly said that she was "not a fine artist" but a trained Early American and European Folk Artist. Those who knew June, believed differently.
Upon her retirement, June finally had time to begin writing. Her first book, Keeping Secrets, was published in 2011. She wrote proficiently and with great fervor until her death, publishing over six novels, two books of short stories, a book of poetry and over 12 children's books, including a series called Buford the Bully, which provided children with strategies to deal with bullying.
June was the embodiment of kindness and generosity, who gave with warm hands and enthusiastic spirit. She was keenly aware of the needs of others and made it her business
to invite those into her home and to her table who had nowhere else to go. Many a stranger and many a troubled soul have been comforted by her wings of compassion.
At heart, June was a country girl who grew up on a farm in Northern New York, but could mingle with the most sophisticated of crowds, while never forgetting her humble beginning. Appreciating the beauty in all things, great and small, June's perfect day might be a Sunday drive in her vintage Crosley, with a pit stop to pick wildflowers on her way to the Consignment Shop where she could search for treasures. Then, with an ice cream cone in hand, she'd head home just in time to watch Masterpiece.
June was a domestic diva, who worked daily to painstakingly maintain her historic home, with the stone walls and gardens she proudly created. June loved the art of homemaking and entertaining.
June is survived by her two daughters and son: Lori Pierce Holt and her husband Jim Holt of Red Hook, NY, Lisa Pierce Rieckermann of Amenia, and Christopher Klabes of Poughkeepsie, NY, who she and Bernie embraced as their own. More than anything, June treasured her grandchildren: Aidan, Ian, Mikaela and Noah. Until the day she died, June mourned the untimely death of her grandson, Caleb, who passed away in 2019. In addition, June is survived by her sister, Debra Kelley Hill of Waddington, NY, her brother William Kelley, Jr. and his wife Debbie of Virginia Beach, and her brother, Anthony Pagliaro of Miami and by many loving nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Lee Hill, William Pierce and David Pierce.
June leaves behind Kim and Rich Davis and their children Olivia and Roselle, and a multitude of companions and close friends, who she cherished to the very end, as she considered them all her extended family. "The more the merrier" was said often.
Each and every day, regardless of great challenges, June moved forward with tremendous will and determination. She approached each new day with optimism and believed in doing and looking her best-hair styled, lipstick on, and fully accessorized.
A loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, co-worker and friend, June leaves behind a legacy of undying loyalty and devotion to those she loved.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 17, 202 at 10am at Sweet's Funeral Home, 4365 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538.
In lieu of flowers, June has asked that donations be made in her memory to your local food pantry.