June Eleanor Lake Follini

June Eleanor Lake Follini died peacefully on January 31, 2024, surrounded by family, at the age of 91. She was born on July 6, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York to Linda and Walter Lake.

June attended Franklin Lane High School where she played the trumpet and the french horn in the school’s All City orchestra, and her love of music was a prevailing theme in her life. She met her husband William (Bill) Follini and they were married in 1952. They moved from New York City to Commack, Long Island, where they raised their three children: Donna, Terri and Bill. She was active in the Evangelical Covenant Church, where she sang in the choir and was a frequent soloist. They moved to Bridgehampton, where she owned a successful wallpapering business and was a member of the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church. She learned to ski at the age of 50. Her favorite ski run was Lost Boy in Vail- a gentle groomer with a spectacular view of the valley. She moved to Fairfax, Virginia, in 1997, and thoroughly enjoyed her ever-expanding flower and vegetable gardens. She worked at the Long and Foster and Promas offices until her retirement at the age of 85. She joined Vienna Presbyterian Church in 1997 and was an Elder as well as a choir member. In her later years June developed a fondness for travel and visited Great Britain, France, Italy, Hawaii (a lifelong goal), and Saint Barth. In 2015 she moved to independent living at The Jefferson in Arlington, where she made good friends, learned to paint with watercolors and create ceramics. Just this past August, June moved to the Sunrise at Hunter Mill in Oakton, where she continued to make friends and share her special sense of humor.

June adored being with her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She spent many happy times in St.Michaels, Maryland, going out on the boat, watching the sunset, sitting on the dock, collecting sea glass, sipping rosé, making friends, painting, watching the birds, and being with her family.

June was a force of nature. She had a keen intellect and a curious mind. She enjoyed reading mysteries as well as the classics. She loved people, hot tea, cocktail hour, skiing, John Denver, flowers, birds, her many pets, dining al fresco, New York, and a good joke. Her sense of humor rarely failed her. She was good at making friends, laughing and putting everyone around her at ease. She loved God. She loved her family. She loved life. She loved to laugh. Her joyful, thoughtful, loving presence was a blessing that her family and friends will miss every day.

June is predeceased by her husband William Warren Follini; her son, William Peter Follini; her siblings, Walter Lake, Lorraine Anderson, and Doris Belle; and her parents, Walter Lake and Linda Sellars Lake. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Donna Follini Reichert and Douglas Austin Reichert; her daughter and son-in-law Terri Follini Shonerd and Jonathan Shepard Shonerd; and her daughter-in-law, Lorraine Mango Follini. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Lynn Reichert (Biggs) Cannon, Lisa Reichert Joyce, Laura Reichert (Charles) Matthews, Allison June Shonerd (Barth Martin), Jonathan William Shonerd (Jill Teterick), Nadine Rose Follini, and Nicole Marie Follini. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren: Grace Cooper Cannon, William Austin Cannon, Charlotte June Cannon, Douglas Mixon Matthews, June Bridges Matthews, Henry James Matthews, Grover Hardin Joyce, Martha Dewar Joyce, Wesley Dickinson Martin, and Sylvia Whitney Shonerd.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 1:00 pm in the chapel at Vienna Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Save the Bay- Chesapeake Bay Trust.