June Marcus

Childhood
June Eriksen was born to Nordic parents, Kaj and Torun. She was an extremely bright child with a penchant for classical music. In order to support their daughter, her parents migrated from Europe to Saran City, placing her in an advanced learning program. In Saran City she thrived, and despite being a top mark student, developed a large number of extracurricular activities. These included playing in a local band, swimming and running, and eventually, a boy named Daniel Marcus. The pair shared a lot of interests, including music, and an active lifestyle. They also both intended to study medicine in the future, cementing their potential to be long term partners. The two fell quickly for one another and love blossomed much to the dismay of her parents, who felt it was detracting from her studies. She insisted he was not a distraction and proved so with her grades remaining consistently high. However, at a very young age, June fell pregnant, and her parents disappointment was immediate and swift. Even at a young age, June was headstrong and decisive. Her refusal to get an abortion further developed a rift with her parents and before she was even 16, she'd moved out of home.

Young Adult, Young Family
Daniel arranged for accommodation for June with his parents and the couple vowed to continue with their studies. Daniel also proposed to June and the couple were married four months into June's pregnancy. Their first child was named Abigail Grace Marcus. The three eventually moved out, with the support of June's parents, with whom she'd worked to repair relations. Both Daniel and June entered into S.C.U. and enjoyed life as young students and a young family, adapting rather quickly to life as young parents and simply getting on their lives. Not wishing Abby to go without having a sibling, the couple decided to have another child and complete their family. Their first son, Daniel Phelan Marcus, seemed a perfect fit. One daughter, and one son. June and Daniel both agreed to end their family extensions there, but a tragic event soon changed that. June was raped on campus as she was out jogging, and fell pregnant as a result. Despite this, she refused to get rid of the baby. Daniel, while previously supportive of June's refusal to get abortions, insisted she lose this baby. June refused and would not compromise her position. Realising he wasn't going to get his way, Daniel supported her. Dade Paul Marcus was the third and final child June gave birth to. Daniel did not bond with Dade immediately, but the smiles and first word being 'Dah' soon changed that. From then on, Daniel, considered Dade his own.

Settling in Merlow
Eventually, June was offered a position in the Greater Merlow District's General State Hospital. She accepted the offer immediately, as both she and her husband were anxious to get out of the city and move somewhere quieter to raise their family. Both had previously spent time in Merlow, and had connections, with several friends and some of Daniel's family already living there. The lakeside town was an immediate draw, and less than four weeks after being offered the job, the entire Marcus family settled into the home that remains to this day, the Marcus home.

Divorce
Despite their best attempts to make married life work, Daniel's work called for more and more time away from Merlow. On top of this, some old resentments didn't go away as they'd expected or hoped, mostly relating to Dade's conception. Daniel also claimed they married too young and he felt they should at least have a trial separation to see if being together was what they wanted. Though June tried her best to keep her marriage together, Daniel filed for divorce. Abby chose to leave with her father and the two left Merlow, leaving behind a devastated June with her two boys.

Life As A Solo Mother
June found it far more difficult to juggle her long working hours with raising her family of young boys, but she managed. For the first time since she was a young teenager, she was alone. She found this extremely difficult to adjust to. Her eldest son, who the moment he realised his father was leaving, refused to be called Daniel anymore, seemed to mature overnight, doing his best to help his mother. Eventually June adapted, her home continued to be filled with life, thanks to her secondhand children, Mike and Marcel.

Personality
June has a decisive, headstrong personality and she does not suffer fools well. She tempers this with a genuine warmth and concern for others welfare. This has brought many into her care, both professionally and personally.

Interests
June has an active interest in sports, music, and medicine.

Family
June's family is large and colourful, consisting of her own direct family, and those whom she has come to love as her own.


 * Daniel Sr. - Despite their divorce, she has tried to remain on good terms with him, and never stops him trying to see his sons.
 * Abigail - One of June's greatest regrets since her divorce was losing her daughter. They are not as close as June would have liked, mostly due to distance and the fact Abigail was always Daddy's girl.
 * Storm - Born Daniel Jr., June's eldest son showed his fierce loyalty to his mother by refusing to let anyone call him Daniel for many years. He insisted on his then nickname, Storm, being the only name people refer to him by.  She tried to soften her son's attitude towards his father, but only succeeded recently.  Of all her children, she is closest to Storm, who became a rock following his father's departure.
 * Dade - This is a relationship that June has both worked hard on, and sometimes taken for granted. Her youngest son is a product of rape, and for most of her life she managed to keep this fact hidden from Dade, despite it being a point of contention with Daniel Sr..  While the two have always been close, in recent times it has grown fractured after Dade learned of his heritage.  Despite her best attempts, June failed to rectify this before her untimely death.
 * Mike - Mike was the only son of one of June's childhood friends, who died when Mike was too young to remember her. June started to take more of an active role when it was obvious Mike's father was an abusive alcoholic.  Mike has had several stints of staying with the Marcus family and he has only ever considered June his mother.  While June wanted to take Mike permanently years ago, it was only when he was a teenager that she finally wrested legal custody from his father.  As far as June is concerned, Mike is the son she never had to give birth to.
 * Marcel - Marcel was a late comer to the Marcus household, moving to Merlow when he was ten. He began with lengthy afternoon visits, to one night a weekend, and eventually he was staying over whenever his parents were out of town.  While her bond to Marcel isn't as potent as Mike, she has a lot of time, love, and respect for him and considers him one of her boys.

Daniel Marcus Sr.
June's longest relationship throughout her life was with Daniel Marcus Sr.. The couple met in Saran City as youngsters and became serious in High School. They had three children together, two were Daniel's by blood, but he still put his name on Dade's birth certificate. The couple were together until Daniel Sr. filed for divorce and left June and the two boys. Their relationship was rocked by June's rape, and by the fact that over time, Daniel Sr. wanted to taste a bit more freedom, having only been with June his entire life. While he claimed to love her, he wanted his freedom. The divorce hurt June and the boys more than it appeared to hurt Daniel or Abby. After nearly five years of divorce, Daniel seemed to be over his desire for freedom, realising June was still the love of his life. June was reluctant to let him back into her heart. She died just before they managed to reconcile fully.

Death
June was killed in a car accident, rushing to General State to see Sarah. Visibility was low, due to heavy rain, and June was also upset over the fact her son, Dade, had discovered the truth of his heritage. A long truck coming in the opposite direction crossed the centreline and while June tried to avoid, the slippery conditions caused her vehicle to skid. She was killed instantly and buried at Merlow's Lakeside Cemetery.

Legacy
June was an integral part of her children's lives, and the lives of many others. Her absence left a large vacuum in her family's lives, as she was the matriarch. Her death shattered her oldest son so much it impacted his health and his emotional stability, eventually serving as one of several reasons for his departure from Merlow. The oncology ward at General State was officially named 'The June Marcus Ward' by Dr. Jesse Haslan in a christening ceremony that all of her children attended, as well as her ex husband. Her youngest son, Dade, named his daughter June after her. Her absence is still felt, but her legacy will ensure she is not soon forgotten.