Joan W Payne

Joan Wilson Payne, our beautiful, brave, and loving Mumma and Nanny passed away May 30 in Chatham, MA. Joan went to join her loving husband Richard Leeds Payne and to see her beloved parents Edmund and Alice Wilson and all her dearest Nova Scotian relatives

Joan Alida Wilson was born in Wellesley, MA on December 23, 1932, the only child of Edmund and Alice Wilson. She spent many joyful summers with family in Nova Scotia and attended Hillsboro Camp where her favorite activity was riding horses. She attended Walnut Hill Girl’s School in Natick MA where her father was the head of facilities. After high school, Joan continued her education at Boston Teacher’s College and Wheelock College where she studied early childhood education and art.

At the age of 15, Joan’s life was forever altered when she met Richard Payne at a ballroom dance. They were married on June 6, 1953. Married life proved to be an adventure. Joan joined Richard as he completed his studies at Williams College. While at Williams, she taught pre-school. The young couple then moved to Cambridge for Richard to complete training to become an Episcopal priest. While in Cambridge Joan worked at a bank. During this time, their first daughter Linda was born

After Richard’s schooling was complete, he received his first assignment as priest to the Episcopal Church in John Day, OR. Thus began Joan’s deep love for the west and the Episcopal ministry. She dove in headfirst, learning the joys of service as a minister’s spouse, and welcoming sons Stephen and Andrew into the growing family.

The next assignment for the church took the young family back to New England with several years serving for the church at Holderness School in New Hampshire. But the west beckoned, and they found themselves serving the church in Pendleton, Oregon where daughter Molly soon joined the family. Joan’s days were very busy caring for her young family and assisting with duties as the rector’s wife.

In 1969, wanting to be near family, they moved back to Cape Cod, living first in East Orleans, and then moving into the family cottage in Brewster that Joan and Richard renovated into a home. As well as caring for her husband and four children, Joan returned to teaching preschool where she took such joy in sharing her love of art with the children.

Joan had a wonderful life. She loved her family and was loved intensely in return. She loved to travel with Richard in their RV. They went everywhere, with Joan always navigating for them. Joan also served as a navigator for her extended family. Her children, Linda, Stephen, Andrew, and Molly always knew that their mom would be their North Star, she was always there for them, picking them up from school, taking them to their sports events and musical performances, having their meals ready when the busy family sat down to eat. Joan also gave that love and support to her extended family. All her grandchildren, Jeremy, Brandon, Kaitlyn, Matteo, and Nicolo knew the comfort and power of her love as did her great grandchildren, Tucker, Brooke, Finn, Thomas and Lane. She instilled in her family her own sense of adventure, play, love for camping, passion for the west, sense of family, laughter, joy, spirituality, and love for nature and dogs. Her loving and kind nature will not be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Native American Children's Fund or the Brewster Conservation Land Trust.

A memorial service for Joan W Payne has been scheduled for July 26, 2025 at 2 pm at The Church of the Holy Spirit ( Episcopal) in Orleans, MA. A reception in the church parish hall will be held afterwards. Those unable to attend in person can join by the YouTube channel linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Hz7JqQWKc

We look forward to sharing in the life of our mother with family, friends and the community.

Thank you,

The Payne Family