June-Ann Furbert’s life has not always been sunny.

Cancer was a huge stumbling block; the loss of a child a massive heartbreak.

Guests at Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa would never have known it.

She was hired in 1973 to manage the “events and activities” of the fledgeling hotel and took on the responsibility with relish.

Ironically, it was not a career that she had planned for.

Ms Furbert was invited to join the staff on returning to Bermuda from travelling with Up with People, a non-profit organisation that tours the world with song and dance performances that promote “multiculturalism, racial equality and positive thinking”.

She had visited 26 US states and 11 countries in Europe and had spent a year in New York learning about television and radio broadcasting.

“I was with Up with People for three years, from 1970 to 1973, and then came back home hoping to get into broadcasting but a job was not available,” Ms Furbert said.

As fate would have it, she had struck up a conversation on the plane ride home and the person mentioned that Grotto Bay was opening. David Boyd was to be the general manager and needed staff.

Ms Furbert was familiar with Mr Boyd having spent a summer working with him at Sonesta Beach Hotel, a resort which was then in Southampton. It was not long before he called her mother asking if Ms Furbert was indeed back in Bermuda and looking for work.

“He told me to come see him and he offered me a job. And that's how I started at Grotto Bay,” she said.

“I started in the events and activity area and one of the things I did was have a fashion show. My mom had June-Ann’s, which was a boutique on Burnaby Street in Hamilton, and so we used the clothes from there.”

June’s Fun Night featured a live band and was another popular event led by Ms Furbert.

“And I walked around the dining room mornings and met the guests, said ‘hello’ to them and found out where they were from.”

The effort made her a popular figure with guests and management at Grotto Bay.

As the hotel looked to train younger staff members on the history of the hotel and its surroundings, it reached out to the retired 74-year-old. About two months ago, she rejoined the company part-time.

“I’ve been helping them because they have a lot of new staff and [I was there] from the beginning.”

Andrea Conneely, who stayed at the hotel 45 years ago and returned this month, was delighted to find her there. According to the New Yorker, Ms Furbert played a huge part in helping her family get through the Christmas period after her father was shot in the line of duty.

“It was a very sad time for me but I never forgot June-Ann, my mother didn't forget her and my brothers didn't forget her either,” she told The Royal Gazette.

“It was something about her persona, her personality, that was gregarious. It was engaging, it wasn't too intrusive … she just had this aura about her.”

Having repeat guests share fond memories of her is one of the perks of Ms Furbert’s return.

“I was part of many activities and many firsts in the time I was there. So it was an exciting time and going back now, it’s so exciting to have people remember me. Just hearing their excitement and revisiting all these wonderful memories,” she said.

Ms Conneely and her husband, John, were thrilled to be invited by Ms Furbert and her husband, Alan, into their home on the final night of their stay.

“I've done that many times. I’d meet guests and if we hit it off I brought them to my house for the sunset. We have a tremendous sunset every night from our house,” she said.

“Great experiences are what bring guests back and what I tried to do at Grotto Bay was create experiences for our guests.”

Her travels with Up with People helped her relate to many of the guests in a way other staff members might not have been able.

“I lived in 26 homes in the United States and 11 countries in Europe, it was a cultural exchange. So a guest who says I'm from Pittsburgh, for example, I can say ‘Oh yes, that’s really hilly, lots of hospitals.’ I could relate to where they came from because I had that experience.”

Ten years ago, she battled Stage 3 breast cancer. Her outlook never changed.

“I had a year of chemo, radiation, a surgery …. I had that during my time at Grotto Bay. I also lost my second baby. So I've had trials and tribulations but through it all, I am a believer of Jesus Christ. I stand on that and I stand on prayer,” she said.

“I may not have known it as much [when I started at the hotel] but in my life, in my challenges and then my opportunities, I've grown and I've put everything to heart in what I believe that God has for me and the journey that he has for me, and I'm excited about life. I'm 74 now, but I have just as much energy as I had back [in 1973].”

Ministry keeps her busy. Ms Furbert dances with One Body in Christ Movement – For God’s Purpose Bermuda and teaches the word of God.

“I'm excited about life and excited that I'm still here and have this opportunity,” she said.

“At the hotel I have young people and they are very much into technical things, and I'm very much not into technical things. I'm going around doing this and doing that and they are amazed that I have so much energy. I tell them, you can too, if you just put your phone down for a moment.”