June Munski-Feenan
On Jan. 21, 2014, Whitefish lost one of its lights as June Munski-Feenan slipped peacefully from this world to the next surrounded by her family.
Born on June 23, 1927, as Eleanor June Wood, she was raised in Columbia Falls in a family of eight children. She grew up on the family farm, graduated high school, and attended Mrs. Bemas business school.
She then met and married her first husband, Walt Munski on May 1, 1946. They had three daughters Ginger, Nicolette, and Darlene. After Walt passed away in 1987, she dedicated her life to others and later was reunited with a childhood friend. She married Robert Feenan on July 17,1993 and the two enjoyed their golden years together.
June embodied the spirit of giving. The way she lived her life everyday was with her hands open, giving generously of herself, her time, her money, of anything she had to help someone else in need. She would give you the shirt off her back without giving it a second thought.
Her heart was full of compassion and always happiest when she was able to help others. She wanted to make a difference in her community. We, her family, are so thankful to God for letting us have her for 86 years. What a blessing to have had her as wife, mother and grandmother. We have had her love, her pearls of wisdom she taught along the way and her example of how to walk through this life making each day count.
She lovingly opened her home for many beloved family members. She was a “natural caregiver” and walked with them through their final days here on this earth. Being able to take care of her mother in her home for a number of years before she died was one of her greatest satisfactions.
We also understand she had so much to give it could not be contained within our own family but flowed out to so many whose lives she touched. She even took a young man named Albert Pete under her wing and shared with him what a home filled with love and family was.
Her optimism and enthusiasm were contagious. Growing up she taught us about a strong faith in God, perseverance through the trials in life that will come and the power of a positive attitude. We were not allowed to say the words “I can’t” but instead, try and try again because practice makes perfect. After all, the only way to lose is to quit.
She has made a difference not only in the lives of those closest to her but her community has recognized her in many ways through awards like First Lady of whitefish, the Big Fish Award, the Soroptomist award, the Spirit of Whitefish, Hometown Hero and others.
What started from a few loaves of bread under a Christmas tree blossomed into her founding the North Valley Foodbank which she ran out of her garage. When her first husband Walt Munski passed away, she used her grief by throwing herself into the mission of feeding the hungry, which became her passion for the next 37 years.
Some of the board members at the foodbank refer to her with a deep respect and admiration as the mother Theresa of Whitefish. Within the last year she was able to see the new building completed. Now they are geared up to help many more in the years to come. Her legacy will live on not only in her family but through the food bank as well.
She leaves behind her husband Bob, three daughters Ginger Theissen (Dennis), Nikki Ward (Elmer), and Darlene Benson. Five granddaughters Sandy Anderson(Jason), Deborah Hurtado (Gil), Melissa Ohs (Jason), and Samantha Flink (Ron), Katrina Bell (Bob), and 13 great grandchildren Koby, Annie, Kaleb, Sophie, Josiah, Isaiah, Kiley, Kaitlyn, Zack, Mimi, and Britton, Shanna, Lilee,
There will be a huge hole in our hearts as we mourn losing such a remarkable woman in our lives. However, a piece of her will live through us all. We believe the best way to honor her is to do what she did so effortlessly, her own way of paying it forward. In memory of her, we encourage all of you to pay it forward to someone else or volunteer your time somewhere and make a difference in your community. The moment she passed from this life to the next, we are sure there was a great celebration in heaven and imagine her lord Jesus telling her these words “Well done good and faithful servant.”
We wanted to thank hospice for all their love, compassion and direction in helping June in her final time here. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the North Valley Foodbank or Hospice.
A funeral mass will take place Saturday, February 1st at 11am in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. A Rosary will also be at the church the night before at 6:30pm. A celebration of June’s life will be at the Moose Lodge directly after the funeral service. Internment will take place at a later date.