Jane Benedetto

CHARLTON, MA — Jane Delores (Mazza) Benedetto, 92, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Jane was born in Hartford, CT, to the late Joseph S. Mazza and Louise (Simoncelli) Fiore. She graduated from Weaver High School and, later in life, proudly earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to learning and personal growth.

Throughout her professional career, Jane dedicated herself to serving others as the director of multiple senior centers, including Windsor Locks, CT, Center City Churches in Hartford, CT, and the Senior Center in Holland, MA. Her work reflected her compassion for people and her desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around her.

Jane lived life to the fullest and was rarely still for long. She was a member of the Sweet Adelines chorus for more than 30 years and enjoyed participating in 4-H activities and numerous sports and activities with her children. She had a special love for the theater and performed with both the Stage Loft Theatre in Sturbridge and the Gateway Players Theatre in Southbridge. One of her most beloved productions was Fiddler on the Roof. An avid reader with an adventurous spirit, Jane also had a deep love of travel that inspired her to take a trip around the world.

Her faith was another very important part of her life. Jane was an active member of St. Christopher’s Parish in Brimfield, where she served as a Eucharistic minister and lector and participated in the church choir.

Above all else, Jane’s greatest devotion was to her family. She was a loving and devoted mother who would do anything for her children and the people she loved. Her family was her constant priority, and she made sure her children understood that being there for one another was not simply something you said—it was something you did. In Jane’s life, “Family First” was more than a saying; it was a guiding principle.

Jane treasured the holidays, when her large family gathered to celebrate, share stories, laugh, and enjoy one another’s company. These occasions meant so much to her and embodied everything she believed family should be. No holiday gathering was quite complete without her famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. So beloved were these cookies that they became a favorite holiday gift from Jane, eagerly anticipated and deeply appreciated by family members. They were more than a special treat; they were a delicious expression of her love, and a tradition that will bring back warm memories for years to come.

Her connection with her children was deep and enduring. She took an active interest in their lives, shared in their activities, encouraged their interests, and gave generously of herself. Her love was expressed not only in what she said, but in the countless ways she showed up for her family. She helped create a bond among her children (and grandchildren) that extended beyond childhood and continues through the families they have built. The values she instilled—loyalty, compassion, generosity, and always putting family first—are among the greatest gifts she leaves behind.

Six years ago, following Jane’s diagnosis with terminal cancer, her children began a tradition that would become one of the most treasured parts of her life. Every Monday, all of her children joined a family phone call that lasted about an hour. What began during a difficult time soon became the highlight of Jane’s week. The calls were filled with laughter, stories, teasing, updates about everyday life, and the kind of fun that only a close family can share. For six years, these Monday calls brought the siblings together, strengthened their bond, and gave Jane something wonderful to look forward to each week. She absolutely loved these calls, and when it was time to say goodbye, she was never quite ready to hang up. She would have to say goodbye three or four times before finally letting everyone go, always ending with the words, “I love you all.” Those simple words perfectly captured the love that connected her to her children and the joy these weekly gatherings brought her. The tradition became a beautiful reminder that family is not just about being there during life’s hardest moments, but also about sharing laughter, creating memories, and finding happiness together. It was a gift her children gave to their mother, but one that brought them all closer and became a lasting part of their family story.

Jane also shared a very special love with her husband, Tony. Each was a wonderful person in their own right, but together they brought out something even more beautiful in one another. Their relationship was one in which two people complemented each other, found strength and happiness in their partnership, and made each other whole. The love they shared was a meaningful and cherished part of Jane’s life.

During Jane’s diagnosis with terminal cancer and throughout the journey that followed, her stepson, Michael Benedetto, was an extraordinary source of help and support. His kindness, dedication, and unwavering willingness to be there for her and the family meant more than words can express. His care during such a difficult chapter was a profound gift to Jane and a testament to the love and compassion that bind a family together.

Jane’s family was a source of tremendous pride and joy. The love she gave, the memories she created, the traditions she established, and the example she set will continue to connect generations. Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and all those fortunate enough to have known her. Her legacy is not measured only by the many things she accomplished, but by the people she loved, the lives she touched, and the family bond she helped build and sustain.

Among Jane’s many passions, few were as close to her heart as her love for animals. She was devoted to adopting and helping animals in need, a compassion she passed on to all her children. That love continues to live on through them and remains an enduring part of their lives, just as Jane’s influence will always remain a part of their hearts.

Jane leaves her husband of 20 years, Anthony J. Benedetto; her sons, Thomas Ratcliffe III of Long Island, NY; Garret Ratcliffe and his wife, Judy, of Sarasota FL; and Keven Ratcliffe and his wife, Faith, of Newington, CT; her daughter, Laura Jennison and her Fiancé’ Ray Bonner of Agawam, MA; her brother, Michael Fiore, of CT; seven grandchildren, G. Austen Ratcliffe & his wife Erin of Mathews, NC; Taylor Ratcliffe of Fort Mill, SC; Christopher Jennison of Enfield, CT; Kayla Jennison of Charleston SC, Colby Jennison of OR, and Connor Jennison of Agawam MA; and Thomas W. Ratcliffe IV of Long Island, NY; and her great-granddaughter, Emma Jane Ratcliffe. She also leaves her stepchildren, Michael Benedetto of Florida; David Benedetto of Long Island, NY; and Carol Boyd and her husband, Howard, of CT.

Jane was predeceased by her sister, Mary Belval, and her brothers, Joseph Mazza, Anthony Mazza, and John Mazza.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Lombard Funeral Home of Monson. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 22, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Christopher’s Church, 16 Sturbridge Road, Brimfield, MA. A lunch reception will immediately follow in the church hall. A funeral procession will form at 12:30 p.m. at the church, with burial service at 2:00 p.m. at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jane’s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute by supporting Michael Benedetto and his Ride to Raise funds to fight cancer @ http://pmc.org/MB0730 or to Second Chance Animal Rescue, 111 Young Road, East Brookfield, MA 01515. In the memo section write in memory of Jane Benedetto. https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/donate/