June Marie Hillis

June Marie Hillis, 91 of Little Egg Harbor, NJ passed away peacefully on Thursday May 15th, 2025 with her loving son and daughter-in-law by her side. June was born in Brooklyn, NY to Jane and Eddie Drumm. She spent her early years surrounded by a loving family and many friends. June graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn and received her degree from Brooklyn College. June developed many lifelong friendships in Brooklyn that she maintained throughout her lifetime. It was in Brooklyn that she met and married the love of her life, Ed Hillis. Ed and June would adopt a baby boy, James, for which the adoption was finalized on Saint Joseph’s Day, which they would all celebrate every year moving forward.

June and her family moved to New Providence, NJ in 1970. June was very active in the PTA, Catholic Daughters, and in her parish, Our Lady of Peace. It was in New Providence that she developed more lifelong friendships. June worked for, and retired as, an executive secretary for Martindale Hubble/R.R. Bowker/Reed Reference Publishing in Murray Hill, NJ. She and Ed looked forward to spending summers at Williams Lake in upstate New York. June and Ed also had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed going hiking, biking, camping, and cross-country skiing.

June, Ed, and her Mother Jane, moved to Little Egg Harbor, NJ in 2006 to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law. It was there that again, June and Ed made many friendships. From their neighbors to church members, and a group of friends from Brooklyn that they lovingly referred to as the ‘Brooklyn Gang’, whom they regularly met for lunch at the local luncheonette, John and Sonia’s. June and Ed attended St. Theresa’s parish in Little Egg Harbor, where they attended mass regularly.

A colon cancer survivor, June tackled this challenge head on and with her signature phrase, “I can take it; I’m from Brooklyn”.

In 2021 June and Ed made the decision to move to The Terraces Assisted Living in Little Egg Harbor. Soon after, June lost her soulmate, Ed, though they spent Ed’s final days together enjoying the tranquility of the area and sitting outside on the back porch taking in the scenery.

June made many friends at The Terraces, both residents and the Terraces team members. June loved and took part in, all the activities that were offered. From the exercise class, movies, entertainment, trips to shows in Atlantic City, attending the Jersey Shore Blue Claws baseball games, June loved it all. She had a nightly routine of playing Rummikub with her friends at the Terraces and loved playing Scrabble. June was an avid reader and looked forward to receiving books from the local library. June most loved spending time with her family.

June was predeceased by her mother, Jane Sullivan in 2010, and her beloved husband Edward Hillis in 2021.

June is survived by her son James Hillis and his wife Lee Ann of Little Egg Harbor, NJ. She is also survived by her loving extended family and a multitude of friends, all who miss her immensely. June was a very kind, compassionate, generous, and loving person, who performed acts of kindness, even when no one was watching. This is a testament to the integrity that she had, and why she was loved by so many.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday May 21st, 2025 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm and on Thursday May 22nd, 2025 from 9:30-10:30am at Maxwell Funeral Home 160 Mathistown Rd. Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday May 22nd, 2025 at 11am at St. Theres’s Church 450 Radio Rd. Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087. Burial will be private at St. Teresa’s Cemetery in Summit, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in June’s honor to:

The Terraces at Seacrest Village, Attn: Activities Department

281 Mathistown Road

Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey

08087