Skip to content

June Raabe (nee Chapman)

June 22, 1935 - December 28, 2014.

Our Mom, June Marina Chapman, was born in Walthamstow, Essex, England, the only child of Ivy and Harry Chapman. June began to study art at the early age of 8 and considered her lifetime occupation to be an ‘Artist’. On her 13th birthday in 1948 Mom and her parents disembarked the Aquitania in Halifax as new immigrants to Canada. Mom graduated from Courtenay High School in 1952, then attended the Vancouver School of Art where she achieved a Diploma.

Mom married Dad (Wolfgang Raabe) in 1955 in Courtenay BC. Mom had six children in fairly quick succession and jettisoned herself into the endless days of motherhood. Often times Mom would be raising us alone as Dad worked away in camps. She was an extraordinarily independent person that could figure out how to do just about anything. Mom was an avid reader and absorbed knowledge like a sponge. She could speak to almost any topic and kept up with current events her entire life. She was a resourceful person and grew a vegetable garden for our family, working tirelessly in the sun in the summer time. Mom was also a fine seamstress.

Above all, Mom was an artist from the beginning of her life until the end. She was a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and the Chemainus Sketch club. She was a proud member of the Ladysmith Hospital Auxiliary from 1984 until her death.

Mom battled respiratory illness for more than 40 years. She spent her last week of life ‘making Christmas’ as she had done for us all our lives.

Well, Mom, you made much more than Christmas. Your legacy lives on in your six children, Jackie Trueman, Kim (Joanne), Nikki Skarvig (Tom), Ray (Karen), Mark (Erin) and Michele; your 12 grandchildren, Arianne, Aaron (Amy), Ashley, Carmen, Darren (Meghan), Jessica (Theo), Tony (Justine), Angela (Chris), Nick (Sian), Chris (Amanda), Jennifer and Sophia Walton; and your 11 great grandchildren, Dylan, Audrey, Violet, Olivia, Lexington, Lucas, Haiden, Lily, Daisy, and our latest additions, the twins, Rowan and Duncan. She also leaves behind her beloved cats Minou, and Tyger.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Aggie Hall (1110 First Avenue, Ladysmith) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday January 17th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Lung Association.  

To send messages of condolence and to share memories of our Mom, please e-mail tskarvig@hotmail.com.



Secondary Title

Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.