Payette, Lynn Van Ausdall
Lynn Payette, 81, of Wethersfield, CT, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024. She was born on June 23, 1942, in Mineola, Long Island, New York.
She is survived by her children Robin Neary and husband James, Dr. Kim Payette-hwang and husband Dr. John Hwang, and Steven Payette and wife Jeneit; her grandchildren Rebecca Pereira, Alexander Harlow, Dr. Alyssa Payette, Julia Hwang, Kassandra Payette, and Sophia Hwang; her great-grandchildren Mackenzie Rollins and Bellahmi Harlow; and her sister Gay Van Ausdall and niece Emily Bilodeau. She is predeceased by her husband of 59 years, James Payette; and her parents David Van Ausdall and Edith Tjarks Van Ausdall.
Lynn was raised on Long Island, New York, and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she graduated high school. Never living far from the ocean, Lynn became an accomplished swimmer and participated in synchronized swimming. While in Florida, Lynn met the love of her life, James Payette, a sailor in the US Navy who shared her love of the water and swept her off her feet. On June 2, 1961, Lynn and James married. After having three children, they settled in Wethersfield.
While raising her children, Lynn began perfecting her embroidery skills, building upon her already considerable artistic talent. Although she attended High Point College in North Carolina, much of her education in the fine arts was from her parents who were both professional artists.
Lynn opened her own studio and became an awardwinning professional fiber artist, designer, and instructor teaching a wide range of fiber arts and inspiring students of all ages both locally and throughout North America with a career that spanned more than half a century. Her work has been published in Family Circle, Woman's Day, Mccall's, Stitchery, Threads, Needlearts, and other publications. Lynn taught for decades at national seminars for the Embroiderers' Guild of America, American Needlepoint Guild, Embroidery Association of Canada, Callaway Gardens School of Needlearts, and the National Academy of Needlearts, among many other places.
In 2023, Lynn's exemplary career attained its crowning achievement when the National Academy of Needlearts honored her with their highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lynn strongly believed in being a lifelong learner even after her retirement. In recent years she enjoyed taking art classes in the Bargue style of classical drawing as well as renewing her study of one of her first artistic loves, watercolor painting.
Being naturally imaginative and genuinely gifted at public speaking, Lynn made lifelong friends easily wherever she went. Lynn had a circle of close friends in the arts, both local and national, and she was especially fond of her friends in the Teatime Knitters.
From the time she was a little girl, Lynn adored horses. As an adult, Lynn finally achieved her dream of owning and riding horses, including Zip, Carla, Valentine, and her favorite, Erkadid. She participated in the rodeo event of Team Penning, went on a week-long trail ride in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and served as an AQHA Color Guard Rider at the Big E.
Lynn always loved flower gardening and had been a member of the Wethersfield Garden Club. The lovely garden in her yard was always a favorite spot for doing needlework and having a cup of tea. She continued gardening until this spring.
Lynn not only brought love, devotion, generosity, creativity, and beauty into our lives, but utterly transformed them with magic, wonder, and boundless imagination. It is rare for a family to have such an inspirational, universally loved matriarch. We were so very lucky. We miss her so very deeply.
Lynn was known for loving a good cup of tea, so the next time you get a chance, please raise a cup of tea in memory of Lynn.
Lynn truly loved flowers but for those who wish to make a donation in her memory, please consider the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Farley-sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT. Funeral service will follow at Farley-sullivan Funeral Home at 3:00 pm. Interment will be at the State Veteran's Cemetery, Middletown, CT, at a later date. To extend condolences, please visit Farleysullivan.com.