Obituary of June R Strubinger

June R. Strubinger, beloved wife of Taylor Strubinger, passed away in the early hours of Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 after an extended struggle with congestive heart failure. June was born in Passaic, NJ in 1931, the second child born to Lester and Grace Cooper. She grew up in Columbia CT, graduating from Windham Regional HS in 1948. In her high school yearbook, she was voted most pleasant personality. She carried her pleasant personality all throughout her life.  She went on to the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1952 with a double major in Spanish and French and a minor in German. June had a passion and a gift for language. She learned and mastered many languages throughout her life. She enjoyed traveling and using those language skills. Italy was among her favorites.

After college June used her language skills working in the foreign department of Hanover Bank in lower Broadway. She attended the young peoples club at the  Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew on the upper West Side. This is where she met Taylor. Taylor’s job took him to Bogota, Colombia. June accepted Taylor’s proposal of marriage before he left.  After several months of a long-distance relationship, Taylor invited June to join him in Bogota where they were married. They returned to New York City in 1955, where they had their first two children (Taylor and Leslie). In 1961, when they were expecting their third child, Jennifer, they relocated to Norwalk, CT. Taylor’s job briefly took the family to Mexico City, Mexico and to Madrid, Spain. All their children learned at least one language besides English. 

In Connecticut the family joined the United Church of Rowayton, where  June found a real home and was very active in the Church throughout her life. Over the course of her 64 years serving the church she was active on many committees. She frequently baked for the coffee hour after the service. Her lemon bars were always a favorite. June was famous at the church for her pies! The pies she baked for the church tag and bake sale never made it out of the kitchen. They were always sold to church members working the event for top dollar! She would also bake for birthdays and special requests. For one of the tag sales, she coordinated the making of a sailboat themed quilt. She and several members each made a square. June then put the quilt together. June made several quilts over her lifetime. A superb seamstress with an eye for art and coordination, June made banners for the liturgical seasons and to mark special events.

June headed the church flower committee for many years. She studied flower arranging, eventually expanding on this skill to doing wedding flowers for friends. Many of the flowers used in her arrangements came from her own gardens. 

June was a great homemaker and mother. Once her children were all school aged, she worked with the Norwalk school district teaching Spanish and French to homebound students. She was a blessing to many students. 

She is survived by her beloved husband Taylor, her daughters Leslie (Patrick) Breen and Jennifer  Strubinger (Lisabeth), two grandchildren, Christine Godsey (Ian) and James Breen; two great grandchildren and two sisters-in-law.  June is predeceased by their son Taylor, parents, Lester and Grace Cooper, siblings Shriley Carlsen (and husband Tommy), John, Lester and Helen. 

The family would like to thank the wonderful helpers from Reliable Care, especially Marie and Judette, who cared for her deeply. Also the nurses and aids from Waveny and Constellation Health Care; June was very well tended to and cared for. Services will be at United Church of Rowayton on June 8th at 2:00 pm. While flowers are welcome, donations can be made to the United Church of Rowayton’s hymnal drive or their flower fund. Donations can be made  securely online at UCRowayton.org (click “Make a Gift”).