Jeanette Emily O’Reggio

22 March 1943 to 18 October 2025

Jeanette Emily (nee Smith) O’Reggio was born on March 22, 1943 in Freeman’s Village, Antigua, West Indies, to predeceased parents Eugenie and Hilson Smith. Jeanette is predeceased by her husband Junior Oliver O’Reggio. She was the loving Mother to daughters Diane (Patrick), Dawne (Fernando), Astra (Sam) and her late son Karl.

Jeanette was a sister to 10 siblings: Elderfield, Sylvanie, Holmes, Geraldine and Fernando. She was predeceased by her siblings Doney, Bernice, Keithlyn, Nella, and Kathreen.

Jeanette immigrated from Antigua to Canada in 1964. Arriving in Montreal, and soon after, settling in Toronto with her sisters. When Jeanette first came to Canada, she worked for a record manufacturer in Toronto and it was in Toronto that she met and married Junior Oliver O’Reggio.

They began a life together that spanned over 5 decades and they welcomed 4 children into their lives – Diane, Dawne, Karl and Astra.

Jeanette was a caring and devoted mother – always grounding her family with a steadiness, love and faith.

She was also a proud and loving grandmother to Dimitre, Jarrell, Malik, Mekhi, Elijah and Taariq. Jeanette was an integral part of the lives of her grandchildren who she deeply loved and cared for becoming ‘Nana’ to us all.

Jeanette shared this same caring with her extended family… nieces, nephews, cousins, in- laws, grandnieces and grandnephews… and, at work where she developed caring friendships. At the end of her career, Jeanette worked in healthcare as an operating room assistant with the Toronto Hospital, now the University Health Network. She was known for her same steadfastness and gentle demeanor at work as she was at home.

Besides family and friends, Jeanette loved her faith, music and watching baseball. She often watched the Blue Jays with Junior on peaceful Sunday afternoons. She was an entrepreneur, teaming up with Junior to operate Reggie’s Veggies. She was also a talented artist, a past-time she discovered in her later years.

Jeanette departed this life on earth on October 18, 2025. She may be gone… but she will never be forgotten.

Our sincere gratitude and a special thank you is extended to Sonia Alexander, Dr. Anita Aghabaghery, the nurses and personal support staff at Bay Ridges Extendicare and Livita in Pickering for their warmth and care of Jeanette.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise (1 Thessalonians 4:16).