Obituary of June Aurora Duck Chief

“Mastotakii”

June 14, 1935 – Siksika Nation, Alberta

January 7, 2023 – Siksika Nation, Alberta

June Aurora Francis (nee Running Rabbit-Duck Chief) passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at the age of 87 years.

June was an Indian Residential School survivor. In her younger years she was a very active bareback horse rider and grew up racing her brother Gabriel (who she cherished very much). She was active in transporting the horses and family tipi to the camp for the Calgary Stampede.

June grew up very traditional and was very proud of her Blackfoot culture. She loved attending the Sundance and traveling to many powwows. She attended Olds College and completed her seamstress program and worked at Crowfoot School for several years.

Everyone knew her as “Juney from Cluny” and she was very proud of that because she loved her home.  She was extremely dedicated to the rosary prayer which she prayed every night. June took pride in raising her grandchildren whom she absolutely cherished and spoiled with love.

June loved her family very much and treated everyone with true kindness and love.

June was the last surviving aunt of the Francis family of the Kahkewistahaw First Nations.

June is survived by her children, Barry (Florine), Fonda, Verena (Shawn), Craig (Lynn), Jonie (Blaine), and her baby girl Janine; her grandchildren, Emily, Chanelle (Ty), Samantha, Billie (Kolby), Theoren, Cassius, Gracie, Presley, Delaney (Ryder); great-grandchildren, Sayder (Layla), Casdin, Cowboy, Dannilynn, Paiden, Jayval, Mariah, Abigail; her traditionally adopted children, Sandra Spariver, Laverna (Wayne), Stanley, Greg; her siblings, Marie, Herman (Ida), Jackie (Clarence), Floria, Jenny, Veronica, Clement (Pauline), Ron (Joyce), Robert (Judy), Norman (Liz), Rosario (Sam), Christine; and numerous extended family and friends from the Duck Chief, Running Rabbit, McMaster, Spring Chief, Scalplock, White Elk, Doore, and Francis families.

June was predeceased by her husband Hugh McKay Francis; her grandchildren, Cassidy, Dale, Jason; her parents, Emily and Rosario Duck Chief; her grandparents, Chief John Duck Chief and Jenny Duck Chief who raised her traditionally; her in-laws, Hubert and Mariah Francis; her siblings, Gabriel, Ann, Adele, Charlie, Richard, Geraldine, Fraser, Arthur; her nephews, Tom, Marlon, Durant, Eddie, Ashley; her niece, Leslie.

The family apologizes for anyone we may have missed.

Wake Services will be held at the Residence of Fonda Duck Chief (Siksika Nation) on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Box 204, Cluny AB) on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Crowfoot Cemetery (Siksika Nation, AB).  Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of June Francis (nee Duck Chief), a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2A 3V9 Telephone: 403-248-8585.