Pakenham Village Tributes : Eileen Payne

Eileen was born in Stanton in 1948 and was the youngest of 7 brothers and sisters.

Eileen attended Stanton Primary School and later moved up to lxworth School when she was older. On leaving school Eileen went in search of the bright lights of London and found a job working making costume jewellery.

Eileen became pregnant with her daughter Julie whilst in London and returned to Suffolk and found a council flat in The Owell estate in Pakenham where she brought Julie up. At this time, being a single mum with a house to run and a rent to pay life was difficult but Eileen found employment as a cleaner in and around Pakenham.

Eileen lived in The Owell Estate for the rest of her days moving to number 72 for many years. Eileen soon became in great demand as not only a cleaner but also as a companion when older people were on their own. She was always there for others to baby sit and look after children, dogs, cats, rabbits all sorts. Pakenham has been blessed to have Eileen there for us in our time of need. Eileen was without doubt the kindest most loving and caring of people. We will miss her so.

Eileen was so understated. She was a worrier. She never thought she was good enough. Why we will never know. She was there at village events. Jumble Sales, Village Cafe all sorts. She was just there. She was part of the fabric of this village. She never knew how important she was to this village as a whole. Perhaps we never told her? Perhaps we should have told her more? Would she have believed it?

Eileen often went to church meetings looking always to galvanise the faith that she had. But the answers given to the questions she asked never satisfied her whether it was at St Marys or latterly at the Christian Fellowship. She was never convinced that God loved her. Perhaps now she knows He does.

Our thoughts are with Julie her loving daughter and Sophie and Conner, Eileen's grandchildren whom she adored and loved with a passion as they did her and with Julie's husband Peter and let us not forget Bob, both always there for her. We would like them to know how her friends and neighbours loved her and how important she was to us the village of Pakenham.

Rest in Peace lovely lady.

PV&CN - August 2017