Cornelius "Neil" Roger Payne

93, of Cranston, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2025 at Kent Hospital in Warwick after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of 57 years to the late Marie Rose (Cece) Payne. 

Born in Boston, MA he was a son of the late Agnes (Michelini) Vonette and adopted father Cornelius Payne. Although he lived happily in Rhode Island with his family for 70 of his 93 years, he still proudly declared himself a Bostonian. 

A US Navy Seabee Veteran, he served during the Korean War and was awarded the National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Neil was a proud member of the Korean War Veterans Association. At the age of 86, he was fortunate to be able to take part in an Honor Flight to Washington DC, which he fondly spoke of as one of the greatest experiences in his life. 

He was the owner of Neil’s Hair Fashions on the east side of Providence for many years. He also worked at Butler Hospital for almost 40 years, as a hairstylist, attendant, and mental health worker, before retiring in 1993. 

 He loved history, cruising, gardening, good food, family, and traveling. He was always ready for a party or the next adventure. 

Neil was an avid storyteller, sharing memories of his younger days and his time spent serving in the war. He was over 700 pages into writing his memoirs, telling of all the places he lived, worked, and visited over his long and interesting life. 

He found great joy in visiting his Italian relatives and also meeting a long-lost cousin on his biological father’s side through Ancestry.com. 

He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Michelle Marie Pike and her husband Brian of Warwick; brother, Robert Von Ette of New Hampshire; granddaughter, Jordyn Payne and step-grandchildren, Nicole Brunhuber, Kristen Pike, and Stephen Pike. He was predeceased by his son Steven Neil Payne and his wife Doreen. 

His funeral will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 10am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am in St. Rocco Church, Atwood Avenue, Johnston. Burial with Military Honors will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITATION Thursday morning from 9-10am.