Jane Osborne

She was born on Jan. 29, 1944, to the late Emma (Pagett) and John Hickox. Jane was raised on the family farm in Cottage where she was a fifty-year member of Cottage United Methodist Church and the Cottage Grange. A graduate of Gowanda High school, she met and married Matthew Osborne on Sept. 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, while maintaining 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: Widowed in 1995 at the age of 53.

She was a 50-year member of 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, 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, Tennessee and Lee (Alexandra) Hadden of Bloomfield, Connecticut 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 at the Fredonia First Methodist Church on Saturday, May 16, 2026. With a luncheon to follow.

The family gratefully declines flowers and encourages donations in her honor to the Fredonia First Methodist Church Senior Dining Site, 25 Church St., Fredonia NY 14063 & the Cottage Cemetery Maintenance Fund c/o Crystal Abers 9822 Mother Road, South Dayton, NY 14138.

Jane was a registered organ and tissue donor and donated her love, will live on through her donations through Connect Life.

She will be interred in the Cottage Cemetery later this year in a private family burial.

Arrangements entrusted to DiStasio Funeral Home. S. Dayton, NY.

Online condolences may be made at www.distasiofuneralhome.com.