Nancy Payne was born in Peterborough, Ontario the eldest of three sisters. Her father worked for a company in the technology industry and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. She attended St. Anne Elementary School and St. Peter Secondary School.
Nancy worked in the fashion section of a department store, and then as a hairdresser. It was during that time that Nancy met her husband David, also from Peterborough. At the time, David was stationed in Germany with the Canadian Armed Forces and the two started communicating by mail. They married not long after meeting in person. A life of service led them to several locations in Ontario including London, Petawawa and Kingston, and took them overseas to Germany.
The couple had two sons, Chris and Randy, who both served in the Canada Armed Forces. In later years, Nancy became a personal support worker at a care centre in Gananoque and went on to a leadership role as Activity Director, retiring after twenty years.
Today, Nancy and her husband live in Lansdowne, Ontario. Nancy enjoys quilting, knitting and reading. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, including four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
For close to nineteen years, Nancy has presented a special athletic award in Randy’s memory to a deserving student at the high school he attended in Gananoque. The “Captain’s Award” is given to a student who shows leadership and athletic skill, and has good marks. Randy loved hockey and was a good player, becoming a local star and captain of the Gananoque Islanders. She also speaks about him on that occasion. “I just want people to know about him, and I don’t want people to forget him,” she says.
As Canada’s National Silver Cross Mother, Nancy feels it is a great honour to represent all mothers and families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. She wants to keep their spirit alive. “Never forget what they did for us. They gave their lives, we can’t forget that… we have what we have because of them.”
