With profound sadness, we share that our beloved friend, colleague, and Dhamma practitioner, June Fukushima, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, following a cancer diagnosis this past August. As a founding member of Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery and Secretary of our Board of Directors, June's impact on our community has been immeasurable.

June was a third-generation Japanese Canadian born into a Buddhist family in British Columbia. She spent nearly four decades as a student of the Dhamma, particularly learning from teachers in the Thai Forest tradition.

June's journey with Aranya Refuge began in its earliest days, from an idea in a passing conversation with Taan Ajaan Geoff (Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu) on a ferry ride in British Columbia. From humble beginnings in 2017, with June’s devotion to the Dhamma, exceptional organizational skills, and deep understanding of monastic requirements, she helped develop Aranya Refuge into a registered Society and Canadian charity. June was deeply committed to every project she undertook. She was like a shepherd – always there, usually quietly in the background, making sure that all the details were taken care of.

Together with her husband Brock Brown and their daughter Kiko, June opened her home countless times to host monastics, providing a space for meal offerings, community gatherings, and Board meetings that helped support Aranya Refuge.

June's vision and hard work were crucial in establishing our "Monastery for a Month" programs, which have hosted Taan Ajaan Geoff and other monks from Mettā Forest Monastery. Even during her illness, June continued to contribute to planning our upcoming Two-Month Monastery program, demonstrating her lifelong dedication to creating opportunities for others to practice and study the Dhamma.

Beyond her work with Aranya Refuge, June's impact on the broader Buddhist community was profound. She served as Personnel Director at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, volunteered extensively with Victoria Insight Meditation Society for many years, and was an active host in the Mettā Parisā community. Her commitment to service embodied the qualities described in the Mettā Sutta – she was indeed "able and upright, straightforward and gentle in speech."

As we mourn June's passing, we also celebrate her remarkable legacy. Whether you knew June personally or not, if you ever engaged with any offerings from Aranya Refuge or Victoria IMS, you were benefiting from June's work and dedication. Her generosity and selfless service have benefited hundreds, if not thousands, in Victoria and beyond. Her efforts towards creating a home for Thai Forest monks on Vancouver Island through Aranya Refuge will surely benefit practitioners for generations to come.

A memorial service celebrating June's life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 2 PM (Pacific Time Zone) at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria (5575 West Saanich Road). The service will also be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.

Zoom Link: Here
Meeting ID: 929 3170 4845
Passcode: 917173

For the short Dhamma talk from the Bungsukul Ceremony for June at Wat Mettā on Sunday, January 19, 2025, "The Skills of Merit," listen here.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Brock, Kiko, and their extended family. May the merit of June's lifelong dedication to the Dhamma be a condition for her happiness and well-being.

Sabbe sattā sukhitā hontu
(May all beings be happy)