Claire A. Payeur

Claire A. Payeur, 79, of Sanford, died January 2 at her home after a brief illness.She was born in Sanford on August 29, 1936, the daughter of Joseph and Evelyn (Rouleau) St. Amand. She married Roger A. Payeur in 1954 and they were married for 43 years.Claire has eight children: Marcel and his wife Sue, Michael and his wife Sandra, Jim and his wife Lory, Dan and his wife Joanne, Tom and his wife Karen, John and his wife Diane, Linda Sevigny and her husband Andrew and Peter and his wife Diane. She also has 25 grandchildren and their loved ones whom she equally considered grandchildren. On January 1st she learned that great grandchild #54 had arrived and that by year's end, that total will reach 59. Also surviving her are two brothers, Robert St. Amand and his wife Bea and Roger St. Amand and his wife Charlene, whom she adored.Family has been her joy and salvation. She devoted her life to caring for others, helping them closer to the hour of their death. She sat with them telling stories of her "babies," baked for them and generally helped them be able to remain in their homes.Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, January 5th from 5 to 8 PM at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 6th at 10:00 AM at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church in Sanford. Burial will be in the spring at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Maine Children's Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. Condolences can be expressed at the Condolences tab at left.