Dorothy Payne
Born In: Beckenham, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Passed in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Passed on: August 26th, 2011
Peacefully, after a prolonged illness, on Friday, August 26, 2011, at the North York General Hospital, Toronto, at the age of 86.
Beloved wife of the late Dr. Walter Payne and longtime companion of Eric Hazell. Cherished mother of Richard (Lisa), Elizabeth ‘Abbie’ (Bill) and Christopher ‘Ciff’ (Lori). Proud grandmother of Nicole (Jesse) and Daniel. Dorothy will be missed by her sister Olive, her brother Raymond and all her extended family and friends in Cape Breton and England.
Born January 2, 1925 in Beckenham, Kent, England, Dorothy was still a child at the outbreak of WWII and was evacuated from London in anticipation of the Blitz. Dorothy's school career was interrupted when she took time off to care for her Mother who was dying of Tuberculosis. Dorothy finished school and did extremely well at her studies. In fact, she did so well that she was the first girl from her school in some years to qualify for admission to the University of London. This was such a notable achievement that the entire school got a day off! Dorothy was called up for War Service and chose to join the Women's Land Army. Dorothy grew to love working on the farm and maintained friendships with her land army girlfriends for the rest of her life. Dorothy met and married Dr. Walter Payne in London in 1958. They moved to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1959 where her three children were born. They moved back to England in 1965 and then settled in Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1968. Dorothy's husband died in 1979 and all three children quickly moved on to university and lives away from Cape Breton. Dorothy became a pillar of the community throwing herself in to many charitable works including the SPCA, the Shadow Council, CWL, IODE, Cape Breton Regional Health Foundation, Cancer Society, MS Society and more recently the Cape Breton Artists Association. Dorothy enjoyed a busy social life with Eric attending concerts, exhibits and square dancing. She enjoyed walking, especially in her favourite spot, Petersfield Park. Health problems and a desire to be closer to her family brought Dorothy to Toronto in March 2011.
Dorothy's funeral mass took place in Toronto at St. Joan of Arc Parish on August 30.
Online condolences may still be made at turnerporter.ca Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to either the Cape Breton SPCA PO Box 762, 401 East Broadway, Sydney, NS B1P 6J1, directly to the shelter or online through www.canadahelps.org or an animal welfare organization of your choice.
There will be a celebration of Dorothy's life later this year in Cape Breton. A notice will be sent out to friends in advance.
