1933 – 2015

LARGO, Fla. — June Keith Parrella, 81, of Largo, Fla., died Friday, April 24, in Largo, Fla.

She was born in Buckfield on June 25, 1933, the daughter of John and Helen Allen. June was very talented with a variety of sewing machines and began her seamstress career at GANT shirt manufacturing in Wauregan, Conn.

She moved on to helping others as a social worker at the Windham Area Community Action Program in Windham, Conn. In 1979, after leaving Connecticut, she started her own business, The Stitch Witch, sewing and altering clothes, and producing many wonderful quilts for friends and family. Her work altering undergarments for breast cancer survivors earned her many accolades.

She was predeceased by her husbands, Glendon Erickson, Leo Keith and Octavia Parrella; her twin brother, John Allen Jr.: and sister, Sandra Conderino.

She is survived by her brother and sisters, Esther Jean of Lisbon, Dan and Joanne Allen of Saco, Josie Levesque of Lewiston and Shirley Keener of Largo, Fla.; her children, Glenda Erickson of Otisfield, Cheryl Erickson Shattenberg of Woodstock, Wayne and Virginia Keith of Danielson, Conn., Koreen Keith and Linda Brown of San Mateo, Calif. and Randall Keith of Miami, Fla.; grandchildren, Walker, Tobey and Benton Shattenberg of West Paris, Erika Keith of New York, N.Y., Ryan Keith of Danielson, Conn.; great-grandchildren, Mason and Baylee Shattenberg of Avon Park, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

June had a colorful and one-of-a-kind free spirit. She was fiercely independent, a civil rights activist, and far ahead of her time in her belief that women could do anything. She instilled in her children the strength to stand up for themselves and others and to think for themselves. Her loving generosity, warm heart and warm, fuzzy hugs will be sorely missed by all who knew her.