Claudia A. Payne

Claudia was born in Lackawanna, NY, the daughter of Louis and Doris (Mitchell) Karl Feb. 7, 1943. Alfred A. Alf was a stepfather to Claudia and was an important part of her life.

Claudia married Curtis L. Payne at the former St. Matthews RC Church in Buffalo, NY, Sept. 23, 1961. Curt passed away March 12, 2024. They called Gowanda home until Curt’s untimely death in 2024.

Claudia retired from Administrative Banking. At the time of her retirement she was the Bank Platform Supervisor at the former HSBC Bank in Gowanda.

Claudia was the “go to” person for many customers and friends within the bank.

Curt and Claudia had three children, Michael L. (Theresa) Payne of Venice, FL , Barbara L. Clabeaux of Canandaigua, NY, and Carolyn M. (Jody) Watson of Henrietta, NY. They had three grandchildren, Danielle (Ronald) Altumura of Rochester NY, Kristina Clabeaux of Forth Worth, TX, and Joshua (Kristy) Olinger of Catonsville, MD.

Survivors include her three children, three grandchildren, her siblings, Beverly (late William) Heinen of Boston, NY, Thomas (Miriam “Mimi”) Alf of The Villages, FL, a niece, and two nephews.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, step father, Alfred A. Alf, her husband Curtis and a brother James Alf along with two nephews.

A Celebration of Claudia’s Life will be held Saturday, June 17, 2025 from 10 am-12 noon at the SCHINDLER FUNERAL HOME, 44 Center St. Gowanda, NY. She will be layed to rest next to her husband in the North Collins Quaker Cemetery on Route. 62 in North Collins, NY.

Memorials, if desired may be made to Leo Center For Caring: St. Ann’s Foundation, 1500 Portland Ave., Rochester, NY 14621, or to local charity of ones choice.