Date of Death: November 3, 2021
Service Details
The family will receive friends on Monday, November 8, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Church, 321 N. Main St., Three Rivers followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Pastor James Smith officiating. Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery following the service.
Obituary Notice
Vivian June (Earl) De Long, age 91, died on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 surrounded by the family who loved her.
June was born in Three Rivers, Michigan, on June 22, 1930. She was the oldest daughter born to Rex and Avis (Chamberlain) Earl.
June grew up in Three Rivers. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1948. Her further education included her Nursing Diploma from Foote School of Nursing in Jackson, Michigan, a Bachelor’s Degree from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan and her Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Education was always very important to June and her family.
June’s professional work history includes nursing in many settings. She worked at Three Rivers Hospital; The Ophthalmologists Office of Drs. Marshall and Fintan in Kalamazoo, Michigan; She was selected to attend a post graduate nursing course at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and became a Nursing Instructor and later the Director of Nursing at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan. She retired from her position as Director of the Nursing program at Glen Oaks in 1995.
On January 1, 1954 June married Ralph De Long also of Three Rivers, in Kokomo, Indiana. The Reverend Richard Cooper formerly rector of Trinity Episcopal Church presided. She leaves to cherish her loving memory her youngest sister Terry (Earl) Simmons and her two daughters Michele (De Long) Holt and Lisa (De Long) Velez; three beloved grandchildren Michelle (Velez) Wadsworth, Rebekah (Holt) Eichhorn, and Matthew Velez as well as two great-grandchildren Ethan Wadsworth and Isabella Wadsworth.
June was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church serving in many capacities over the years. She attended Episcopal Cursillo, was a member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) The Daughters of the King and completed the four year course EFM, Education for Ministry based at The Beecken Center of The School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Her interests included classical music as well as international travel. She traveled to The British Isles, Switzerland, and Japan. She was a voracious reader of books, family history as well as the history of Three Rivers.
June cultivated long, meaningful relationships with a vast network of friends, colleagues, former students and family.
June was preceded in death by her parents Rex and Avis (Chamberlain) Earl, her husband Ralph De Long, one older brother Roger Earl, two younger brothers Gerald Earl and Richard Earl, and two younger sisters Joyce (Earl) Cooley and Karen (Earl) Molby.
She is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the greater Southwestern Michigan area.
May her soul, and all the souls of all the faithful departed thru the mercy of God, rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her now and forevermore, Amen.
Additional Information
Memorial donations may be left to Trinity Church (put “Daughters of the King” in the memo line) or the Glen Oaks Community College nursing program.
Please Leave Your Condolences
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To all the family of June ,
My deep sympathy to all of you .
I was one of June’s students at Glen Oaks I’m proud to say . She was always the consumate professional . You could be rest assured if you were taught by her it was the right way to do it . So many of us at Glen Oaks were happy and privileged to have her as an instructor and Dean of nursing .
May our Lord give you peace . . . ✝️
My sincere condolences for your loss. Mrs. Delong was Director of Nursing, and a hands on instructor when I attended and graduated from the nursing program at Glen Oaks. She was amazing, and inspiring, and allowed us all to find our own individual passions for what we wanted to do and be – in healthcare. I appreciate all she did for me, in laying the groundwork for my amazing career. She made a difference in our lives, so we could make a difference in the lives of our patients. Gratefully, Linda (Vroegindewey) Czapla, Kalamazoo.
Michele and Rebekah, please accept our deepest sympathy as you mourn the passing of your dear mom /grandma to her eternal life. May your darling mom rest in peace in the arms of our maker God.
I hold wonderful memories of your mom, recalling the incredibly warm welcome (Irish céad míle fáilte) she gave me to her home in Three Rivers. I was fortunate to meet your dear sister Lisa during the same visits. You have inherited from your mom, that laugh-out-loud, infectious laugh that remains with me.
Your mom was a true, generous and humble Christian, she was kindness personified.
May your mom/grandma rest in peace reunited with your dad.
Love ❤️
Siobhán Kelleher and John O’Shea
Ireland
Dearest Lisa & Family,
We are so very sorry for your loss.
Miss June was a very caring, smart, true lady.
Her students say she was a wonderful,
caring instructor & nurse. If you went through her classes, you were prepared for your nursing career. Miss June was respected by all who knew her. May your great memories comfort you during this difficult time.
Thoughts, prayers & hugs,
David & Denise Miller
My deepest sympathies for Lisa and family. I got to know June when she was at Bowman Place. She was such a sweet lady. May she Rest In Peace and may the family be comforted.
Grandma was the type of woman that one can only hope to aspire to be like. She loved her family intensely and her many accomplishments make me proud to even be related to someone like herself. I love you Grandma and I know you are in a better place now that’s more deserving of someone like you. Rest In Peace and with love, Bekah.
Vivian was a saint. She was a talented independent lady. She will be remembered fondly by all that knew her. The world needs more people like Vivian DeLong. Condolences to her family.
Michelle, Lisa and family:
My deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to you as you grieve your mom. I remember her with such love and warmth. The time we shared working together at Glen Oaks is one of my most cherished memories, as well as getting to know all of you during that time. I am grateful that our friendship continued for many years after the GOCC days. Sending love and prayers to you now and always.
Michele and family — I am so sorry about ya’ll’s loss of your beloved Mother — What a remarkable lady she was — I pray ya’ll find peace, comfort, and lots of God’s Love and Hugs — Kathy Estes
Michele and family,
Our hearts and prayers go out to you and the family.
Love,
Rose and Sam
Michele, Lisa and family — our deepest sympathy in the loss of your sweet Mom. May you find comfort in the beautiful memories you shared with your wonderful Mom. What a beautiful soul she was. Et Lux Pertetua! We love you Michele.
So appreciate June’s kindness towards me as well as the mothering and mentoring of her fine legacies: Shelly and Lisa.
Terry,
My prayers and thoughts are with you and Vivians entire family during this time.
Nancy Wright
June was a wonderful lady. So glad I had the chance to get to know her better when she lived at Bowman.
My Deepest Sympathy to the family.
Arlene Parsons