Wilmington, NC - Betty June "June" Work, daughter of Ruth (Meyers) Wood and Charles Wood, died peacefully at Dan and Cindy Work's home in Wilmington, North Carolina, on May 8, 2026. She is now with her beloved husband of 63 years, Vernon, her brother and sister-in-law Harry and Dorothy Wood, and her mother Ruth Wood in eternity.

June is survived by her five children, Ken Work, (Amy Santoro, deceased), Meadville PA, Dan Work (Cindy) Wilmington, NC, Bill Work (Valeri), Destin FLA, Laurie Work, Scottsdale, AZ and Leslie Work, Sun City, AZ. June is also survived by 9 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren: Angie, and her four children, (Cochranton); Rachel Malitis, (Todd and their children, Rebecca, Evan and Jacob, Avondale, PA); Vernon Work, (Eva) (and children, Ben, Eve and Jake, San Antonio, TX); Dr. Adam Work (Sylvana, and their children Madison, Alexander and Isabella, Wayne, NJ); Dana Kiessling, (Aaron and their children, Charlotte, Julian and Mattie, Destin, FLA); Adrian Hofmeister, (Brandon and their daughter Vayda, Phoenix, AZ); Danielle Work, (Brooklyn, NY), step-granddaughter Kristen Geiger (Philadelphia) and step-grandson Joseph Geiger, (Ontario, NY). June is also survived by her sister Pat Fry, (Jamestown, PA), and her daughters, Ruth Guerrini, Rae Stoyer and Robin Fisher, (Jamestown, Greenville, PA). And her sister-in-law Phyllis Fulton (Virginia) and her children, David Fulton, Rick Fulton and Terry Edwards. Other surviving nieces and nephews include, Kathy Kaste, (Ernie), Janice Reese, (Auggie), Reenie Siverling, (Ed), David Wood, (Bill), June Wood-Wagner, (Dale/Jimmy Bucket), and Mike Wood, Cochranton and Meadville, PA.

With June it was complete devotion to Vernon first, and then her children. She parented with an unwavering devotion to teaching each a deep sense of right and wrong, loyalty, accountability, discipline and a strong work ethic. June loved to have fun and had a sharp sense of humor and quick comebacks. She could win any teasing contest. She taught the family this skill, too. June was sensitive, tough but tender, a caregiver at heart and resilient. She loved to play cards and could compete well with several of the grandchildren. She was an outstanding cook and baker, and family meal, picnic and holiday hostess. After her children started school she held a variety of jobs, working at the Viscose, Dairy Isle, Channellock and Kennedy Trucking.

Vernon and June travelled to Germany, Sweden, France, Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, California, Texas, Tennessee, and the Caribbean-- often with or to visit family. June may have attracted natural disasters, having lived through three floods, three tornados and an earth quake. She could tell the story of each vividly.

June loved music and played the saxophone, piano and the organ, well. Often, she arose her 5 children by loudly playing Reveille on the piano. She thought that was very funny. This gag may have caused her to earn the nickname, "Elton June." She tap-danced as a child. And played basketball at Cochranton High School. A family friend referred to her as "a great sports Mom," following Dan and Bill's baseball, 'the twins' sports careers, and nervously agreeing to Ken's first motorcycle purchase. She also cherished each of the family dogs.

In her later years, Leslie attended to our mother at her Cochranton home and at her Rolling Fields casita. Bill and Valeri cared for her at her Fleming Island Florida retirement community. And Dan and Cindy Work compassionately attended to her while at her Wilmington NC apartment and their home until her death.

June was a quiet, faith filled Christian and member of the Cochranton United Methodist Church, the Cochranton United Brethren Church and attended the Cochranton UCC Church.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor June, kindly make contributions in her name to the Wesbury/Cribbs Home Benevolent Fund, Meadville, PA. There will be a private interment service at a future date.