June Brown died in April, with most of the country saddened by the news when it broke.
The Dot Cotton actress had been at the helm of the iconic chain-smoking EastEnders star since 1983, and had captured the hearts of the nation.
Dying of natural causes aged 95 on April 3, 2022, June left a huge £1million fortune in her will.
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June’s family released a statement that was posed on the official EastEnders Twitter account.
It read: “We are deeply saddened to announce our beloved mother, June, passed away very peacefully at her home in Surrey on Sunday evening, with her family by her side.
“We would kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”
As EastEnders fans have witnessed June’s character Dot die off-screen in the soap this week, when Sonia received a devastating phone call – scroll on to discover more about June’s sad passing and will.
Leaving fortune to kids
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Away from Albert Square, June had been married on two separate occasions.
June was married to John Garley for seven years from 1950 until 1957 when he died from suicide after suffering depression. She then remarried a year later to Robert Arnold, who died in 2003.
While married to Robert the couple had six children, but one sadly died. June and Robert’s children William, Naomi, Sophie, Louise were joined by a girl named Chloe.
The tot arrived at 28 weeks weighing barely two pounds, and tragically died in infancy.
The Sun reports that prior to her death, June requested that her worth would be equally divided between her daughters and son.
Health woes
Although she died of natural causes, like any elderly lady, June suffered her fair share of health woes.
In May 2015, June revealed that her eyesight is failing due to macular degeneration, which led to an EastEnders storyline for Dot where her eyesight was deteriorating too.
Speaking about the condition in April 2019, the actress said that it had worsened since undergoing surgery in 2017, and that she does not go out socially because of her eyesight.
The beloved star said: “I never go to soap awards or suchlike now. I don’t recognise people that I know and they would think I was snubbing them.”
EastEnders funeral
(Image: BBC)
Dot had already departed EastEnders following her death, but she will now be written out of the soap completely.
Following on from June passing away, EastEnders announced that they would hold an on-screen funeral to honour the star.
Several members of cast, past and present, will be seen at Dot’s graveside when the funeral airs.
The likes of Jacqueline Jossa will reprise her role as Dot’s step-granddaughter Lauren Branning, while other past cast members make a return also.
Mary ‘The Punk’ Smith played by Linda Davidson, George ‘Lofty’ Holloway played by Tom Watt and Barry Clark played by Gary Hailes are some of the other stars reprising their roles.
Strictly Come Dancing star James Bye, who plays Martin Fowler, recently told RadioTimes: “Any EastEnders fans are gonna struggle with it, because it’s really tearful.”
Tributes from EastEnders co-stars
(Image: BBC / Jack Barnes)
Many of June’s EastEnders’ co-stars flocked to social media to pay tributes to the beloved star when she died in April.
Adam Woodyat, who is known for playing Ian Beale, took to Instagram to write: “I’m lost for words, something June never was. So many memories, so much fun.
“Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it. They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.”
Milly Zero, who plays Dot’s granddaughter Dotty Cotton on the soap, also took to social media to pen: “I have never met anyone who cared about their craft so deeply.
“An artist, a national treasure, an icon & an inspiration to us all. She will always live on in the hearts of everybody she touched. There will never be anyone quite like June.”
She concluded: “A huge, huge loss. Today and always my thoughts are with her family, friends & the whole team at @bbceastenders.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
