WILLISA JOY PIRSON PAYNE

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• Only recently I became aware of my friend, Willisa, having passed away. I have known Willisa for 47 years, having met in 1967 when I moved to Montreal and began working at the Montreal General Hospital where she worked. We began as colleagues and immediately became friends and this friendship has continued until her death. I lived in Montreal for 16 years and over that time we would meet for lunch or dinner, usually at her apartment and later we would have lunch or dinner at John and her home on Sherbrooke Street. In 1983 I moved to Toronto and our friendship continued with me visiting her In Hudson and then in Montreal. When we could not visit we would talk on the telephone. Eventually Willisa moved back to Winnipeg and we again kept in touch. Willisa returned to Montreal, usually annually, and when she came through Toronto we would again get together for lunch or dinner. We usually went for high tea or to the Royal York and chatted for hours. Over the past couple of years Willisa’s visits became less and less and I believe our last time to chat was two years ago, probably her last visit here. Aalways on my birthday Willisa would phone and this year I didn’t hear from her and I wondered if something had happened.l Willisa was a lady, loved to shop, take long walks, garden, and read. She loved to discusss politics and was opioniated . Nothing passed her by but she also was a good listener and would make anyone feel at ease. Willisa loved to travel and I recall the time she and John were on their way by train to Toronto to attend the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. At Kingston the train broke down and not wanting to miss the Fair, hired a taxi for the remainder of the trip! Willisa would come to Toronto to get her hair cut. Willisa enjoyed the Montreal Museum of Arts and later her work with them. I feel a great sadness in hearing of her death but will continue to remember and smile when I think of our visits together. Karen (Matheson) Gregor - Posted by: Karen Gregor (Friend) on: Apr 14, 2014

• Willisa's mother looked after my father when he was a young boy and likewise, when I was young, she used to take me on special occasions. Willisa knew me for almost 70 years. Whenever you met Willisa, you came across a very elegant, poised woman. She was an excellent conversationalist. She had charm, wit and could be quick to the point. When dining with her in restaurants, nothing escaped her eyes and she would point out mistakes servers would make at our table or other tables. She made quite an impression on people who met her for the first time as I found out at my retirement and parties hosted at our home. Being a long term Liberal and with her wedding to John Payne, Liberal political guru, it seemed fitting that a long term serving MP from Winnipeg North would marry them, that being Stanley Knowles, in a small church outside Ottawa. Willisa, if it was not for that unfortunate accident last December, we would still be talking and going out to lunches together discussing the current situations in Ottawa. - Posted by: colin dederick (family friend) on: Oct 25, 2013