Obituary: Muriel Payzant, 90

Muriel Rae (Fraser) Payzant, of Somers, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 15, 2024 at Kimberly Hall in Windsor. She was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on July 5, 1933 to Robert and May Fraser. Muriel moved with her family to Connecticut in August of 1968, and though she built a life in the US, she went “back home” to her six siblings in Nova Scotia each summer until it became too difficult for her to travel.

All of her family and friends will miss Muriel’s fun-loving personality. She was always ready for a good time, whether playing games with her adult children and grandchildren, teaching her great-grandchildren to jump over cracks in the sidewalks, or playing pranks with (or on) her sisters.

Muriel leaves behind three children: Judith (Nicholas) Salerno, Stephen (Kathleen) Payzant, and Robert (Franca) Payzant. Along with her children, she is survived by her cherished grandchildren Paul, Matthew (Cori), and Nicholas (Nicole) Sinsigalli; Courtney (Michael) Baklik, Cameron (Andrea) Payzant, and Catherine (Ryan) Barton; and Laurel (Calvin) Payzant and Amber (David) Payzant. “Nanny” will also be missed by her great grandchildren Sophia, Paul Jr, Sarah, Anna, Jaden, Juliana, Hailey, Eleanor, Everett, Wilder, and Aspen.

Mooie, as her close family and friends knew her, is also survived by several family members in Canada, including her siblings Joy Harwood, Peter (Linda) Fraser, Robert (Barbara) Fraser, and Jane Fredericks; her sisters-in-law Janet Boliver and Linda (Donald) Miller; and many loved nieces and nephews.

Muriel was predeceased by her daughter Susan, her former husband Donald Payzant, and her sisters Peggy Weld and Janet Edstrom.

Muriel’s burial and service will take place in Nova Scotia this summer. If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please consider the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who can be reached at 1-888-940-9997 or aspca.org. Muriel was a great animal lover and continued to make donations to this charity throughout her life.