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- I’m the 90-year-old matriarch of a 4-generation household. I sleep on the couch, and my family shares the other 6 bedrooms. (businessinsider.com)
A 90-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Shares Life in a Multigenerational Toledo Home
June Boyd, a 90-year-old great-grandmother of 14, lives in a spacious six-bedroom house in Toledo, Ohio, alongside four generations of her family. A nonprofit professional by trade and currently working as a day care provider, June embraces a unique living arrangement that reflects both practicality and deep family bonds.
Despite her age, June maintains a personal ritual: unfolding a sofa bed mattress each night where she chooses to sleep. Although she has her own bedroom, this choice allows the younger generations their own space.
“It’s not as if I need to sleep there. It’s my choice,” she explains.
A Home in Toledo’s Heart for Over a Decade
June has called Toledo’s historically African American neighborhood home for 12 years. In 2014, she moved into a duplex that was being converted from a single-family home.
The affordable $700 rent and the convenience of living downstairs without stairs appealed to her at age 76. Over time, she made the house her own with personal touches like paintings and furniture.
Family Moves In, Sharing Space and Support
Over the years, June’s family grew closer under one roof. Her younger siblings moved into the upstairs unit, and six years ago, her grandson, his partner, and their five children also took residence upstairs. The upstairs unit includes three bedrooms accommodating the couple and their children, while the downstairs apartment houses June, her daughter, granddaughter, and other great-grandchildren.
In 2021, June’s daughter joined her downstairs, and two years later, her granddaughter-recovering from a heart attack-moved in with her three children. Despite the full house, June happily sleeps on the couch, placing family comfort above all.
The Practical and Emotional Benefits of Multigenerational Living
For the Boyd family, sharing a home is both a financial necessity and a source of strength. With rising living costs, splitting rent between family members eases the burden. Illness has also played a role in bringing everyone together, with June’s daughter currently receiving cancer treatment away from home but expected to return soon.
“There are no downsides to multigenerational living,” June notes. “We don’t fight.
We have disagreements sometimes, but nothing out of the ordinary.” She emphasizes respect and family unity as cornerstones of their household.
Sunday ‘Big Momma Dinners’ Bring Everyone Together
Most Sundays, June prepares a soul food feast affectionately known as the “Big Momma Dinner.” The menu features her specialties: turkey carved by her son, dressing, collard greens, potato salad, candied yams, mac and cheese, and pineapple upside-down cake for dessert.
The family gathers around a large expandable table, with June often at the head, while the children sit at their own smaller table or nearby. These dinners are more than meals-they are opportunities for conversation, teaching, and connection.
June reflects on the unconventional nature of their living situation, where adult children remain at home rather than moving out. “It’s wonderful to have everyone under the same roof, interacting with each other,” she says. “I always put a lot of stress on love, and we have a lot to go around.”
Through shared spaces and shared lives, the Boyd family exemplifies the strength and warmth that multigenerational homes can offer in today’s challenging economic and social landscape.