June L. Zeiner

June L. Zeiner
June L. Zeiner, widow of the late Edward Zeiner, former Fire Marshal for the city of Torrington, passed away in the home that she loved for 59 years surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, May 25, 2025. June and her husband were married for 65 years. She was the daughter of David C. and Helen Kilmartin Butts, both of Torrington. Mrs. Zeiner was a graduate of Torrington High School and Brigham Young University, where she majored in Family Relations and Home Management. Her college major spoke volumes to the priorities she set for her life, focusing her energy on blessing the lives of her family and community.
In 1964, June was selected by the New York advertising firm Proctor and Gamble from women nationwide as the 7th best cook - noted for her pies. She starred in a television commercial filmed at her Torrington home, advertising Crisco shortening, which aired on major networks nationally for two and a half years. She owned and operated the Silver Platter Catering Service for several years and was noted for her wedding cakes.
June was an excellent cook. She hosted Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas yearly for the better part of her life. She was also an avid Rummikub player and hosted many game nights where friends and family gathered to eat food and play board games. She loved having family and friends in her home.
June worked as Food Service Director for the town of New Hartford for 20 years, retiring in 1990. During that time, she was a member of the Executive Board of the Connecticut School Food Service Association for 14 years, and Regional Representative for the Laurel Hills chapter of the Association.
June was also a member and volunteer worker for the Torrington Historical Society. She was Past President of the Torrington Women's Club, Chairwoman of 'Count Ten for Kids' and Chairwoman of Literacy for the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Connecticut. During that time she organized an adult literacy program in the Torrington area which helped many area adults with reading and writing. This effort eventually grew to include Torringtons' Elementary schools. She later started the Mentoring Program in the Torrington Public Schools.
At age 89, June enlarged her tutoring program to become the Northwest Community Learning Center, housed at 'the glass building' on East Main Street, to assist children after school in enhancing their literacy skills, a program which the Superintendent of schools at the time called an answer to his prayers. She continued this work, which she loved, into her early 90s.
June was passionate about helping people in need. For many years, she maintained a closet at Torrington High School for at-risk youth, filled with hygiene kits, food, clothing, and gift cards to provide them with haircuts and other needs.
June was selected by Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone to serve as 'Lord Mayor for St. Patrick's Day' in 2017, an honor which thrilled her.
For her work on behalf of others, June was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of the Torrington-Winsted Areas in October 2023, the highest honor bestowed by Rotary International.
June was a long-time member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which she became acquainted with during her college years, attending Brigham Young University, and becoming a member of the church in Salt Lake City, Utah during a family vacation in 1975. June later served as Ward Historian for the Church. During that time she wrote a history of the church in Litchfield County from the early 1920s through 1994.
June took great satisfaction in serving as an ordinance worker in the Hartford, Connecticut Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren, scheduling huge family reunions at the Lakeville Town Grove. She had a gift of gathering her large extended family. They love every opportunity to be together.
June loved being a homemaker. She painted ceramics and enjoyed doing needlework. She loved to decorate and was very artistic. She also enjoyed doing genealogy work, which she did extensively.
June's Family meant everything to her. She had a desire to provide the best life she could for her sons and their families. Through the years, she often chose to go without so that she could save more to pass on to her family.
Highlights of June's later life included international travel with her husband to Scotland and Ireland to trace their family roots. She took her family to Walt Disney World in 1989 which holds fond memories for them.
June is survived by 4 sons- Mark A. (Patty) of Goshen, Jeffrey J., Jonathan G. (Karen), both of Torrington, and Robert W. (Maureen), of New Hartford, 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Edward J., her oldest son, Edward D. (survived by Lillian), and her siblings, David W. Butts, Russell T. Butts, and Mary A. Smith.
Funeral arrangements include calling hours Friday, May 30th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road/Route 202, in Litchfield, with the funeral service to follow Saturday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m., also at Thurston-Rowe Funeral Home. Donations can be made in memory of June to KidsPlay Children's Museum, 61 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790.
To send the family online expressions of sympathy please visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com