Jean (née Croft) Payne was a force to be reckoned with in politics and business.
As a former Liberal MP for St. John's West from 1993 to 1997, Payne achieved a voice to be heard – and used it to speak up for the voiceless. She supported causes close to her heart - the struggling fisheries and rural communities she knew firsthand in Newfoundland - while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her male counterparts.
Her determination to succeed against the odds, as a woman, was a great feat. But nothing lit up her eyes and brought an even bigger smile to her face than family.
"My sisters and cousins were extremely close to Aunt Jean. We had conversations with her all the time. The day before she died, my cousin put me on FaceTime with Aunt Jean from the palliative care unit. She said to me, 'I'm so grateful to have had you. You were one of my daughters,'" said Bonita Croft, while remembering her beloved aunt, who passed away from cancer on March 4.
She revelled in her nieces and nephews' accomplishments and hurt in their disappointments.
"Family was so important to Aunt Jean. She often remarked that while she and Uncle David (Payne) didn't have any children of their own, their nieces and nephews took this place. They felt blessed to have those bonds," said Mary Oates, as she recounted the large family gatherings fondly at her aunt's home in Aquaforte and then, years later, in St. John's.
"Aunt Jean loved bringing friends and family together. There was no such thing as too many people; for her, it was the more, the merrier. We could always count on her dinners being delicious and about two hours late. Her dinner parties were notoriously behind schedule because she enjoyed the sense of togetherness too much to worry about being on time."
Payne brought a sense of bravery, courage, and grace to the table. But behind closed doors, she was a sentimental person.
"She kept every photo ever given to her and had mementos from virtually every special occasion for decades. Yet, her house was always as neat as a pin. She knew where to find anything you asked about, even from the files and boxes she had stored in the attic or basement," said Oates.
"Aunt Jean had a memory to share for every picture, ornament, and artifact, and she treasured each one. She showed tremendous poise, even as a young woman, in every picture taken, too."
Payne touched countless lives with her generosity, not always with money but often with her time and desire to help.
"She'd do anything for anyone," said Oates. "She had a lasting impact on so many people, who were truly appreciative of her support, friendship, guidance, and mentoring."
In the end, there were no "what ifs" or lamenting on missed opportunities.
"She had travelled the world and forged some incredible relationships along the way. It wasn't lost on her how remarkable it was for a woman from a small town in rural Newfoundland to have those opportunities. She was very grateful and felt truly blessed by the life she lived," Oates said.
"She taught me that life will always present you with obstacles. She told me that we all make mistakes, and things won't always work out the way we think they should, but that doesn't mean we've failed, and it doesn't mean we should stop trying. She never stopped trying."
