Jane Osborne, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones in the care of Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care at her home in Fredonia on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. She was born on January 29, 1944 to the late Emma (Pagett) and John Hickox.
Jane was raised on the family farm in Cottage, where she was a 50-year member of Cottage United Methodist Church and the Cottage Grange. A graduate of Gowanda High School, she met and married Matthew Osborne on September 1, 1963 and raised three children: John (Deb Schillaci) of Westfield, Janet (Marvin Rivet) of Silver Creek and Jen Osborne-Coy (Douglas) of Fredonia.
She and Matt enjoyed hosting neighborhood volleyball games and swimming in their yard. She also maintained beautiful flower gardens. The couple loved traveling with the late Thomas and late Elizabeth (Depasquale) Purcell and Australians Michael and Eunice Moore.
Jane was employed at the J.N. Adams Developmental Center and NYDDSO until moving to the Quarry Road Group Home before her retiring in 1997 with 25 years of service. She was widowed in 1995 at the age of 53.
She was a former trustee of the Cottage United Methodist Church and Cottage Cemetery. She loved music and was an active ballroom dancer for several years. She volunteered at the former Lake Shore Hospital.
She delighted in being the grandmother of Matthew Rivet of Silver Creek, Amanda Rivet of Sommerville, MA, Jackson Osborne-Coy of Fairport and Grayson Osborne-Coy of New Paltz.
In 2005, she met the late Nial Hadden found a new life partner. The couple traveled internationally and across the country, often visiting family and former business acquaintances.
They purchased and made a beautiful home together in Fredonia. They enjoyed hosting family and friends, delighting in card games, train dominoes, and poker.
A fierce competitor, she played weekly games of Up Words and cards as well as the card game "golf."
She was happiest in her living room watching the various birds and wildlife.
She was an enthusiastic ambassador for Chautauqua County and enjoyed showing visitors the Dunkirk Pier, Point Gratiot and Luensman Overlook, as well as Cassadaga and Chautauqua lakes.
She loved preparing meals for guests and was well known for her amazing dinners, baked goods, including chocolate chip cookies, Texas sheet cake and date nut balls. She also made hundreds of chocolate covered pretzel rods as favors and gifts for events and holidays.
Through her 17-year relationship with Nial, she gained an expanded family of two more sons, Nial Jo (Kathleen) Hadden of Smyrna, TN and Lee (Alexandra) Hadden of Bloomfield, CT; as well as 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her care packages and Grammie Sammies. She loved connecting with people. She frequently attended the events of her grandchildren, cheering and clapping loudly. Often treating friends to the perfect ice cone or sundae.
She was a beloved and integral member and volunteer at the Fredonia First Methodist Church, where she served as a greeter, usher, communion server and member of hospitality team. She loved volunteering at the Office for the Aging dining site at the church each week and served on the planning committee.
She also volunteered at the Fredonia Mini Maker Faire.
Jane was preceded in death by her brother, Garland Hickox; her parents, Matthew J. Osborne and Nial J. Hadden; and her beloved cat, Ginger.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 16 at the Fredonia First Methodist Church, with a luncheon to follow. She will be interred in the Cottage Cemetery later this year in a private family burial.
The family gratefully declines flowers and encourages donations in her honor to the Fredonia First Methodist Church Senior Dining Site, 25 Church Street, Fredonia NY 14063; or the Cottage Cemetery Maintenance Fund c/o Crystal Abers, 9822 Mosher Road, South Dayton, NY 14138.
Jane was a registered organ and tissue donor and donated her love, which will live on through her donations through Connect Life.
Arrangements entrusted to the DiStasio Funeral Home, 478 Route 83 in South Dayton.
