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Lucia Payne Obituary
LUCIA McCLINTOCK PAYNE - age 81 of Fairfield, Connecticut, the beloved wife to S. Giles Payne for 58 years passed away at home on Saturday, November 4, 2023, after many years coping with COPD. Born in Washington, D.C., she was raised there and in the Boston area by her parents Frances ("Petey") Steidel McClintock and John C. McClintock. As a youngster, many summers were spent enjoying the sand and water at Pine Orchard, Branford, Connecticut. Lucia attended The Winsor School and Thayer Academy and graduated from Western College for Women, Class of 1965 which included a semester as an exchange student at Spelman College in Atlanta. Lucia and Giles were married in Alexandria, Virginia in 1965, lived in Philadelphia while Giles finished law school and then moved to Seattle, Washington for three years during Giles's military service and where their sons Giles ("Gilescito") and Adam were born. She loved hiking the mountains of the pacific northwest, sailing in the waters around the San Juan Islands, and most important the many lasting friends she made there. She and Giles then returned to Fairfield to make their home.
Lucia was an active volunteer most of her life as a member of the League of Women Voters, the Rodger Ludlowe Parent Teachers Association, a homebound tutor, and a member, and former president, of Fairfield Community Services. People were her passion, and in 1987 she graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in social work. She practiced geriatric social work for the next 20 years at the Veterans Hospital in West Haven and loved every day doing it. In later years, her interests centered on lifting the stigma of mental health, particularly depression and schizophrenia and supporting Alcoholics Anonymous.
In addition to her husband, Lucia is survived by her son Adam Payne and four grandchildren: Fiona Payne, Gareth Payne, Alex Zielinski, and Irene Zielinski, all of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also survived by her brother John McClintock of Baltimore, Maryland, and her sister Susan McClintock Vas Dias of Bonar Bridge, Sutherland, Scotland. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son Giles Payne, her brother Michael McClintock and her sister Deborah McClintock Cook.
There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, Connecticut on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. The memorial service will be live-streamed and archived at the church website. Online condolences can be offered at www.redgatehennessy.com
Memorial contributions are suggested to Brain & Behavior Research Foundation www.bbrfoundation.org/; The Bridgeport Hospital Foundation foundation.bridgeporthospital.org/; and United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut www.unitedwaycwc.org/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lucia Payne
Sponsored by Redgate - Hennessy Funeral Directors.
Nancy Hughes
January 19, 2024
Giles,
I was so sorry to hear of Lucia's passing. Please know that I am thinking of you at this time
Nancy Hughes
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Sheila and Susan
November 16, 2023
Marty has posted a very moving eulogy for Lucia which echoes our sentiments exactly.
I was first introduced to Lucia and Giles in the early `90s when Susan, her sister, took me to Fairfield. We have stayed there and visited them in Arizona many times and so I feel I know the Paynes very well. They came to us here in Scotland too.
In March this year, when it was clear just how fragile Lucia had become, our `shepherdess´ Linda volunteered to accompany Susan and I to Fairfield. We had a wonderful week. Jock, her brother, joined us. Lucia was in great spirits! We went to church, had lunch at the country club, lunch with their friend Gail, watched the Oscars and had a very memorable final dinner when we heard some very funny stories about the McClintock family. Lucia talked and laughed as much as always. We are so pleased we managed to make the visit.
Lucia, you know that Susan loved her `baby´ sister very dearly. And you made me feel totally included and valued as one of your family. Thank you! We will especially miss our regular FaceTime calls. You know that we will always keep in touch with Giles.
We will miss you!
Sheila McKenzie and Susan Vas Dias
16/11/23
Robert and Rose Meena
November 15, 2023
Giles, Adam, and respective families, Rose and I are deeply saddened after learning of Lucia's demise; she will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Our family shares many, many memories as next-door neighbors and a wide range of friends we met through the Paynes. We can still see Lucia settling rifts either between her boys or amongst their peers in her judicious and loving manner. An observer would assume that she had a law degree.
Her contagious laughter would frequently change the mood of the gathering to a festive nature when utilized and relaxation followed. She took her geriatric responsibilities very seriously, and being a veteran, I was elated that she devoted her efforts to the veterans. Although our paths widened with the new Payne address, we still held a warm and respectful place in our hearts for the Paynes. Our thoughts, love, and prayers are with all.
Cynthia Ripa (Travers)
November 14, 2023
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. There was no one like her! With deepest sympathy.
Marty Coffey
November 14, 2023
Lucia and I met at thirteen when she was visiting her Aunt Betty and Uncle Jim in Pasadena, California. Our friendship was magical from almost the very beginning. It came to be a friendship of 69 years. Lucia met her `Giles´ at Bruce´s and my wedding in June of 1963. Giles and Bruce had been roommates at Andover and friends ´til Bruce died a year ago. We four referred to our long, loving, relationship as having had a magic wand sprinkle fairy dust over us.
I remember Lucia loving the smell of salt water pushing itself on the breeze, the birds circling over the water, the seals popping their heads and waving at people on boats nearby. As the years continued through high school and college our relationship blossomed into the deep, loving, trusting friendship that has been one of the gifts of my life. I am so grateful, I have been blessed. I carry her in my heart forever.
We grew together as wives, mothers, friends during the ongoing process of raising children, sharing in the Payne/Coffey friendship, becoming grownups, always holding one another´s hand.
One of Lucia´s gifts was how selfless she was, compassionate and kind. She used her intuition to connect with those in need, and by her own brand of `Lucia Magic.´ Over her many years of giving to her community, being a social worker, reaching out to those who needed to have an ear. Through Lucia´s words she will continue to live in our hearts.
Lucia´s optimism, her human spirit, helped her and helped Giles and Adam withstand the tragedy of losing Gilesito. Bruce and I both shared wonderment and awe watching how they dealt with the tragedy of losing Giles. The immense love, pride, and untold joy that Adam has brought to their lives...has brought and still brings joys, smiles, giggles, and then much healing. The strong love and closeness that Adam and Lucia shared brought inexpressible and endless wonder to Lucia. Lucia loved being a grandmother, too, to each of Adam´s children: Fiona and Gareth; Alex and Irene.
Lucia had a "love affair" with Giles. She always, always looked up to him with great pride and love, loved hearing about his practice as a lawyer, his passion and interest in golf, and bringing diversity into golf, his tireless work for the Bridgeport Hospital and the United Way, and so many more places I am unable to list. They shared a love for gardening and hiking!! Sailing, reading, the pursuit of learning more about their religion, going on retreats to monasteries over the years. Giles, her love for you is ongoing. She left a part of her heart with your heart.
To close, I will quote from a very special message for this morning...
Just follow the heading Peter Pan gave Wendy Darling
As they surveyed the stars spread across the sky
He showed her the way like you have shown me
Second start to the right, then straight on ´til morning
Have a wonderful flight
We´ll all meet you there.
I love you, Lukey.
I´ll always cherish our lovely, cherished friendship.
Barbro Lund
November 14, 2023
What a pleasure to have been a friend of Lucia´s. Such an amazing person, bringing so many wonderful memories to all she touched. Dick and Barbro Lund.
Rosemary Bell
November 13, 2023
Lucia and Rosemary first met at Penn Law School and were both in the Law Wives Club there. Giles and Jim were classmates and friends and we have loved each other and continued and deepened our friendship through the years. Giles is Godfather to our Mary Grace, our #6, our youngest, born in 1980. The four of us had a wonderfully warm visit at the Payne home in mid-May, and it shall remain a treasured memory forever. Lucia is now in Heaven where she shall breathe freely and laugh easily and where, we have been assured by the Lord Himself, "every tear shall be wiped away". We bid an earthly "Farewell" to our most dear, kind, intelligent, and compassionate friend, "until we meet again". Thank you for the gift of your friendship and example.
"Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet princess, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
We love you Lucia.
Rosemary and Jim Bell
Stephanie R. Kirik
November 13, 2023
I feel blessed that Lucia's life journey crossed paths with mine. Her "sparkly" personality brought smiles to many.
Milton Jacoby
November 12, 2023
So sorry to hear about Lucia. She was a driving voice in establishing the gifted education program at Tomlinson Middle School. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Marty Coffey
November 12, 2023
Friend from age thirteen till a week ago today......."How do you hold a moonbeam in our hands?" Marty coffey
Eileen ohara
November 11, 2023
Lucia and I met at the book club in Fairfield Woods Library She was a light in my life for which I am so grateful.
Kathy Mastronardi
November 11, 2023
Giles and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Lucia was truly a wonderful human being and getting to know and work with her at Fairfield Counseling Services was an honor. She was always a pleasure to be around. RIP Lucia.
Donna Cramond
November 10, 2023
I worked as a Social Worker with Lucia for many years at the West Haven VA. We became good friends . I can honestly say Lucia was perhaps one of the most selfless individuals I have ever worked with. Her generosity and thoughtfulness toward the Veterans and their families was without bounds.
I know she will be loved and remembered by all those whose life she has touched. My sincerest sympathy to Giles and her family.
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