June Alice Armanino née Almestad

June Alice Armanino née Almestad born 7/23/1928 passed peacefully in her sleep on 12/27/2021 at the age of 93.

Her parents Alfred and Josephine Almestad immigrated from Norway in 1942. June was born in Seattle WA and the family moved to San Francisco. June met her lifelong love, Roy at Balboa High School. Her friend since childhood, Edie Ranghiasci remembers June first went out with Roy because she thought he looked “cute” in his coastguard uniform with bell bottom pants.

June and Roy married in 1950 and went on to have three children; Rodney, Vincent and Jeannine, soon moving their young family to Millbrae, a newly established suburb of San Francisco where they formed many life-long friendships.

Roy and June were a groundbreaking couple in the ‘50’s as they both had careers. They managed to work out their schedules so they would both be on hand to raise their young crew. Roy and his beloved brother Bill owned and operated the Flower Mart Restaurant in San Francisco. While June began her career selling Avon, she quickly graduated to selling real estate in the 1960’s and that’s where she met her lifelong friend and business partner, Helen Warren… What a force they were!

June’s adventurous spirit did not end there. She began taking flying lessons, flying solo at the age of 50! In 1979 she obtained her pilot’s license, eventually buying her own plane. June was a member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women which promotes education, scholarships and support, honoring their passion for flight.

June donated her time and used her plane to transport medical supplies to those in need. Always a champion of the underdog and vulnerable, she volunteered her time at the Hiller Museum in San Carlos and assisted in workshops that helped people get beyond their fear of flying. June was a member of the Allied Pilot’s Association.

June was fearless and was always looking for the next adventure, which she decided would come in the form of SKYDIVING at the age of 65! She convinced her ‘less than’ adventurous daughter into joining her for the dive. This proved to be an experience of a lifetime……..for June.

June especially enjoyed traveling the world with her family and friends, embracing all cultures, forever interested in everyone and everything!

She enjoyed the last 15 years living at the Versailles in San Mateo where she met her companion Dr. Harold Schultz. She and Harold traveled the world, embarked on cruises, relished in adventures and enjoyed a very busy social life.

June is survived by her three beloved children, Rodney, Vincent and Jeannine. She doted on her grandchildren, Gina Sakamoto (Ross), Eric Armanino, Annie, Molly and Sam Armanino and great-granddaughters Kylie and Emma Sakamoto. June is preceded in death by her adoring husband Roy Armanino, her treasured daughter-in-law Sharon Armanino and her beloved brother Henry Almestad.

June was a fierce advocate of wildlife and donated monies and endless hours to organizations which protected them, including but not limited to The Peninsula Humane Society.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Peninsula Humane Society (phs-spca. org) or any wildlife or local animal shelter of your choice.

Services are temporarily postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.

Charlene (aka Charlie) our loving mother, wife, and friend is missed. Charlie was a proud San Franciscan born to Mildred and Charles Wakefield. She married and divorced Marc Guiragossian, married and predeased by Milton R. Morse.

Charlie modeled for a photographer boyfriend in high school, yet married shortly after graduation, meeting Marc at Vesuvio’s in North Beach during the Beat scene (which she embraced and spoke of fondly, also playing chess at City Lights), and started a family.