March 10, 1929 – October 14, 2021
It has been a while since I posted. I am here again after the loss of my mother last Thursday afternoon, October 14th. She was 92 and passed peacefully in the home I shared with her for the past 31 years. After being her sole caretaker for many years, the last two plus with her bedbound and blind, a slight stroke took what strength she had left. It was just me and our five beloved kitties with her, an intimate and very private experience witnessing her last moments in a body that age had robbed of its vitality, and the freeing of her spirit that was still a beautiful, smiling young girl.
Once upon a time
I planned to be an artist
or celebrity.
A song I thought to write one day
and all the world with homage pay.
I longed to write a noble book,
but what I did–
was learn to cook.
For life with simple tasks is filled,
and I have done not what
I willed!
June M DiGiacomo
(From the last page of a journal of hers that I found)
Those who knew her at any point, will remember June’s “Mona Lisa smile”, sparkling hazel-blue eyes, and infectious engagement in a life to be celebrated rather than grieved over.
If you would like to know a little more about her (including her connection to Ernest Hemmingway), I have written her obituary and you can read it here.
Otherwise, at this time, as I slowly adjust to my life without her, I will let a poem I wrote many years ago and a few of her paintings remember her.
The secrets of your heart
are stacked against the wall,
canvases for your art
of hiding what you missed.
No mistaking your style,
a freedom out of hand
that kept you all the while
believing as you wished.
A world that long was yours
before it was revealed—
imagination soars
with courage its master.
Flowers filling a place
left bereft of your own,
a portrait in a vase
found by me, your daughter.
Landscapes take you afar,
cats and soup bring you home
to settle for who you are:
the author of this poem.
~ DM Denton
Donations in her memory may be made to one or the other or both of the following animal rescue organizations:
Second Chance Sheltering Network: Click on “Donate” in the upper right-hand corner. On second payment screen, please click “Write a note” to indicate that your donation is in memory of June M. DiGiacomo.
Wyoming County SPCA: Click “Donate”. Click on “Memorial Donation”. Click on “Memorial”, “In Loving Memory” to June M. DiGiacomo, “Human”. Please fill in “Send notification of donation to” with bardess@earthlink.net.
bardessdmdenton - author- artist 
So sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. Sounds like she handed down her mulitple talents to her daughter!
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Thank you so much, Rosanne. Hope you and yours are keeping very well. ❤
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She was very talented. With your support she was able to realize some of her dreams. And you keep her work alive, sending it out to the world as a gift. It’s beautiful how you honor her.
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Yes, she was, Mary. I am so happy I was able to use social media to share her talent, her work, her vivid, fluid vision of the world. Thank you. Hope you are well. ❤
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I loved reading this, shed a tear and thank you dearest cousin for your deep love, endearment to my favorite aunt: as I was fortunate to have her in my childhood and also the early years of my son John’s life too. Thank you again, many strong hugs and it pains me deeply not to be there to say goodbye…
On Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 03:13 bardessdmdenton – author- artist wrote:
> bardessdmdenton posted: ” March 10, 1929 – October 14, 2021 It has been a > while since I posted. I am here again after the loss of my mother last > Thursday afternoon, October 14th. She was 92 and passed peacefully in the > home I shared with her for the past 31 years. After being ” >
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