Jeannette "Theresa" Payne (Richard)

Jeannette “Theresa” Payne (Richard) passed away quietly at 99 years old, with her daughter at her side on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024. Jeannette “Theresa” Payne (Richard) was born on November 29th, 1925, to John W Richard and Marie Richard (McCaie) of Portland, who immigrated from New Brunswick Canada in 1921. Raised with a background of French decendents, she was one of nine children. She remembers; “Pup would tell us to speak French at the table or don't speak at all!” Five siblings passed at a young age. Theresa and her sister Lorraine were inseparable, and Lorraine lived longer than expected due to the care from her sister. Theresa graduated from Portland high School in 1941. She spoke about how the boys all went off to fight in World War II leaving a large void in the graduating class and several positions in the factories for the ladies to fill. A motto she lived by: “ Never let your fuel tank get below a halfa tank!” Theresa had a never-ending love for music. She taught herself how to play guitar, piano, accordion and ukulele. She was very talented and could pick up any instrument, She memorized the instruments, playing blind. During blackouts at that time, she would play piano in the dark to “just make light of a dark situation”. Her father bought her first guitar in a pawn shop for $5 when she was 9. It was very special to her and still exists. Playing the piano accompanying her father on the fiddle, they would play for hours together mastering the old French jigs and reels of Acadia. On Saturdays, the Martin brothers from Westbrook would come and play together. The neighbors would come and sit in the front yard to listen. “One would play, then they'd have a drink, then another one would play, and they'd have another drink…lol. They'd all try to outplay each other! Man alive, were they good” She married Neil Small who was in the military services. Together they had three children, Kathy, William and Lorraine. While stationed in Germany, Theresa had taken a steamship from America to get there. She would chuckle as she spoke about the rough seas. “Anything that wasn't nailed down, went from one side of the ship to the other “! Jeannette married her second husband John R Bailey of St. Mary's county Maryland. They had a daughter Corrine. Theresa later moved back to Portland to live and care for her mother, “Mum” until she passed away in 1983. That same year, Theresa “Jan” married her late husband Byrl L. Payne of Casco. After she retired from the city of Portland in 1988, they had many adventures together traveling the countryside. They would often take a road just to see where it went. She and Byrl became snowbirds to Florida to enjoy the warm weather during winter. Loving animals they spent time together at Busch Gardens for the animal shows. You would certainly find her crying from the amazement she felt for the connection the trainer had with the whales. “Jan” and Byrl both worked part time for Enterprise Rental, shuttling cars. Not one to “waste time”, if you needed to be somewhere on time, “Jan was your driver. “ Jeannette had many interests. She was a member of the “Stitch ‘n Bitch club”. The group consisted of “Theresa's late sister Anita, niece Lyndell, Theresa, Collette and dear friend Lucille. Surviving Jeannette are her daughter Kathy Trail of Cocoa Fla, son William Small and wife Tracy of Bowdoinham Me and daughter, Corrine Bailey of Steep Falls Me. She also has four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. All who reside in Florida. She has cousins, nieces and nephews in Canada and the US. We would like to send special thanks to the staff of the Barron Center in Portland. It truly makes a difference when care comes from the heart 💗 because chandeliers don't care. Thank you also to Northern Light Hospice Care! Thank you to all the special people that helped and cared for Jeannette and stopped by over the years. She loved you all! Jeannette had a very tender heart for happiness and a great sense of humor. She touched many lives . She was the last of the Richard’s generation. Predeceased by her parents, John and Marie. Siblings, Anita, Norma and Eugene and daughter Lorraine. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 20th from 9:30 to 10:30 at Dolby, Blais & Segee, 35 Church St. Westbrook. A Funeral will be held on the same day at 11am at St. Anne’s Church, Main St. Gorham, burial to follow at Brooklawn Memorial Park.

Jeannette "Theresa" Payne (Richard)

November 29, 1925 - December 10, 2024

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