June Tolomea

June Tolomea, 86, of Kensington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, just shy of her 87th birthday. She was the beloved wife of Richard Tolomea, with whom she shared 62 years of devoted, joyful, and enduring marriage.

Born in Bristol, June was the daughter of the late Stanley and Helen (Krulicki) Kowalski. June worked in the finance department at Loctite (Henkel) for 30 years. Together with Richard, she prioritized family, tradition, and togetherness.

June cherished her summers at White Sands Beach in Old Lyme, a place that brought her peace and treasured memories with Richard, and the countless family, friends, and friends of friends who walked through her doors. Known for her welcoming nature and contagious laughter, she was happiest cooking and baking for her family, especially for her five grandchildren. Her blueberry pancakes were legendary. When you ate a meal at June’s table, you would leave with a full heart and stomach.

June was a great listener and talked to her children and grandchildren daily. Keeping “grandma” in the loop was not an option, it was required. She rooted them on with incredible pride, advising them and sharing her opinions, many times at family dinners on Sundays where her homemade sauce, also legendary, was enjoyed by all. The legendary list should also include June’s pies which she started with a delicious flaky crust.

June was a parishioner at St. Paul’s church. When unable to make it to mass, she faithfully watched the service on her tablet.

In addition to her loving husband, Richard, June leaves behind her two daughters, Debbie Stefens and her spouse Andy, and Diane Curtin and her spouse Dan; her cherished grandchildren, Lindsey and Ryan Stefens and his fiancé Caitlin, Adam, Alex, and Olivia Curtin; her sisters, Barbara Denehy and Diane Bailey; her in-laws, John and Andrea Tolomea, Florence Conner, and Brenda Tolomea. June was especially close with her sisters and in-laws — they shared holidays, daily phone calls, and decades of laughter together. She also leaves behind many adored nieces and nephews. She is reunited with her parents, and her beloved twin sister, Jane Huttemann.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 11:30 AM at St. Paul Church, 461 Alling St., Berlin. Burial will follow at South Burying Ground in Kensington. Calling hours will be held Monday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin.