Passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, surrounded by her loving children. She lived with warmth, creativity, resilience, and joy, leaving a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Jane spent her early years on the Hamilton Beach Strip. She later shared a beautiful life with her beloved husband, Greg Riccardi (1925–2010), first in their cottage home that he built for them on Locarno Avenue and later in Burlington, where they raised their family and created a home full of music, laughter, friendship, and generosity. After Greg’s passing, Jane moved to Heritage Place in 2013. Even after losing her sight to glaucoma, she faced life with remarkable strength, curiosity, and optimism.
Music was Jane’s great passion and gift. A talented singer with a vibrant spirit, she studied voice with her childhood friend Joyce Cameron, sang with Hamilton’s St. Giles Choir, and later joined the Burlington Seniors Four-Part Harmony Choir alongside her dear friends, the Elcheran sisters. She also performed and toured across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom with the beloved Geritol Follies, delighting audiences everywhere she went.
Jane Alice Riccardi was endlessly creative and deeply caring. Her English Garden was admired throughout the neighbourhood, her sewing skills filled closets with handmade clothes for her children, and her handcrafted dolls became a small business she loved. Her kitchen was always open, with homemade meals and fresh baking ready to share. She had a rare ability to make people feel welcome, cared for, and uplifted.
She leaves behind her children, Gregory Jr., Patrick (Mary Anne), Cynthia (Larry), Roz, and Kyree (Johnny). She will be especially missed by her grandchildren, Sahra, Aaron, and Grayson, who were by her side in her final days, as well as Kelly and Nicholas, with whom she shared a close and loving bond. She is also survived by Gregory’s children, Adam, Lisa, and Michael, and his stepchildren, Ryan and Julie.
A Celebration of Life will be held at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 485 Brant Street, (one block north of City Hall), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333), on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 3-5 p.m.
