Obituary of Elsie May Payne

Elsie May Payne (Saunders), our sweet “Bonnie”, passed away peacefully on January 26th , 2022, surrounded by her loving family and gentle caregivers.

Bonnie will be greatly missed by her husband of 67 years, Newton Payne, her children Shelley (Tim) Snell, Russell (Kim) Payne, Victoria (Tim) Ailport, and Valerie Webber (Mark Sando), grandchildren Russell, Julian, Molly, Miranda, Mitchell, Allison, Samuel, Elijah, great grandchildren Russell and Ethan, step-grandchildren Camie, Nikki, Angie, Vicki, and Doug. She will also be dearly missed by sisters Carol Spooner and Nancy (Newmie) Daley, sister-in-law Anita (Ed) Costello, brother-in-law Robert Payne, and many loved nieces and nephews.

Bonnie was born on October 20th, 1932 in Braintree, MA to loving parents, Al and Mary Saunders. She loved growing up with her two sisters. Bonnie graduated from Boston University’s Sargent College and enjoyed a rewarding 35+ year career as a Physical Therapist.

Bonnie married her handsome sailor, Newt that same year and they began to build a life of love and adventure together.

Over the next 67 years they would have their four children, moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to California and eventually settle in North St Paul, Minnesota. They eventually had a little winter place in Florida where they could be near the ocean and enjoy the sunshine, but always returned to their MN home. Bonnie made a beautiful loving home for her family wherever they lived and also took great pride in the homes and families her children would eventually build.

Bonnie and Newt travelled the world together, including many countries in South and Central America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and every state in the U.S.. Bonnie took great joy in learning about other cultures, especially through the children, music, and traditions. She shared colorful stories of these travels with family and friends and made wonderful photo albums to remember them by. Bonnie was also a good cook, avid gardener, and wonderful artist, and she taught her family a love for all of these things.

St Marks Lutheran Church in North St Paul was very special to Bonnie and her family, and she made many lifelong friends there.

We are so grateful for all the wonderful people who have helped our sweet mom on her journey through Alzheimer’s. Special appreciation to the loving care and attention given by the staff and caregivers at The Waters of Oakdale, mom’s nurse, Amanda, and her granddaughter, Miranda. Mom was able to have joy in all of her days because of your wonderful care and we had precious extra time with her. This means more to us all than words can say.

If people wish to make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or St Marks Lutheran Church in Bonnie’s honor, it would mean so much to Bonnie and her family.

Bonnie will forever be remembered for her sweet smile, quiet strength, and ability to make the best of everything. She touched so many lives, even when she no longer had words. We all live on knowing we were loved completely by her. Our hearts are broken but we know our sweet mama is safe in heaven surrounded by love and would want us to remember her with joy in our hearts.

A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held at 11:00 am on February 19th at St Marks Lutheran Church, 2499 N Helen St, North St Paul with a visitation starting at 10:00 am.