In Celebration of
Monique Richard
July 16, 1970 - January 17, 2026
Monique Richard—known lovingly as Twin, Mo, Nikki, and most recently, Grammo—passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, at the age of 55. Born on July 16, 1970, in Toronto, Ontario, Monique lived a life defined by twinship, beauty, creativity, intelligence, gentleness, and profound love.
Monique was raised in Port Elgin alongside her identical twin, Suzanne, and their older sister, Rachelle. When her parents moved the family to a home in the country, it became Monique’s safe haven for nearly fifty years. The family bond was strong—her dad steady and unwavering, offering support through every challenge, and her mom deeply committed to family life, working tirelessly each day to ensure everything was cared for and that a family meal was always on the table each night.
In her youth, Monique spent her time outdoors—swinging from the willow tree, walking to her special spot at the bridge, admiring her mom’s flowers, and naming the many cats. Through the constant love and support of her parents, she learned independence and empathy.
In later years, little had changed. Every visit to the family home was special; whether spending time at the beach or sitting on the porch swing, it always felt like home. In 2024, after her mother’s passing, Rachelle, Monique, and their dad took on the monumental task of packing up the house. Even in her grief, Monique ensured the new family felt welcomed, leaving small tokens in each room for their children to discover.
From their earliest days, Monique and Suzanne shared a rare and radiant bond—full of laughter, creativity, and deep, instinctive understanding. They were inseparable, finishing each other’s thoughts and moving through life in joyful rhythm. United by art, fashion, and self-expression, they delighted in being twins—embracing attention, bold style, and exuberant dance with pure glee. They brought each other immeasurable love and happiness, and each was the other’s greatest joy. To know Monique was to know how completely Suzanne lived in her heart. The twins later moved to Toronto to pursue their artistic callings and to experience the freedom and richness of city life. They attended Arts College and fully embraced the alternative creative community that shaped their voices as a visual artists. Toronto became Monique’s home for most of her adult life—first alongside Suzanne, and later with the great love of her life, her husband Skot Kortje, and his daughters, Brianna and Mickyla, whom she loved and embraced as her own.
Since their chance meeting in 1995 at Kilgours Bar Meets Grill, Monique and Skot grew to share a love that was deep, intentional, and beautifully intertwined. They delighted in the quiet intimacy of daily life—creating rituals, planning their days with care, and making everything feel thoughtful and elegant, even with limited means. They loved swimming together, taking long walks, exercising, dancing, and simply being in one another’s company. Neither wanted much beyond the other’s presence. They were true partners in every sense—matched in rhythm, laughter, and devotion. As Skot often shared, Monique was the only dance partner with whom he ever felt so completely and naturally in sync.
Monique was immensely funny and quick-witted, with a sharp intelligence that matched her beauty and sensitivity. Those who knew her deeply knew how brilliant she was—articulate, perceptive, and thoughtful, with a remarkable ability to communicate and connect. Her empathy was instinctive, her insight profound, and her mind lively and curious. This intelligence was foundational to her closest relationships and made her bond with Skot, one of true soulmates.
Monique was many things to many people: a gifted and trained visual artist, a devoted caregiver, a homemaker, a gracious hostess, a confidant, and a lover of music, nature, swimming, seafood, and sunsets. She was deeply feminine, kind, silly, and wonderfully warm. She had a rare gift for making people feel safe, seen, and cherished. Everything she touched—whether a canvas, a table setting, a room, or a heart—she made more beautiful.
Monique was an animal lover and a devoted “fur-baby” mother to her cats. She found joy in hosting, volunteering with Holy Family Church, and opening her home with generosity and grace. Her faith was quiet but steadfast, expressed through service, nurturing, and love.
She was also deeply brave. After enduring the unimaginable loss of her twin sister Suzanne, Monique carried grief with tenderness and faith, becoming a gentle companion to others who suffered. Since Suzanne’s passing, Monique longed for reunion, and it brings her family peace to believe that the twins are now together again, embraced in benevolent and eternal love.
In recent illness, Monique received what she called her “best medicine”: caring for her infant grandson, Sheppard. Being a grandmother filled her with profound joy. She was a smitten Grammo—gentle, attentive, and endlessly loving—and she will be deeply missed by all her grandchildren.
Monique leaves behind a rich and lasting legacy through her artwork and her deeply moving memoir, With Every Brushstroke (https://www.witheverybrushstroke.com/), which stands as a testament to her creativity, vulnerability, intelligence, and grace.
She is survived by her loving husband, Skot Kortje; step-daughters, Brianna and Mickyla; grandson, Sheppard; step-son, Daniel (Galena); and granddaughters, Sophia and Olivia; father, Norm Richard; sister, Rachelle Mack (Alex); nephews, Sharif(Julia and daughter Amelia) and Ehren; and extended family of Pam, Neil, Liam and her many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Carmella, and her twin sister, Suzanne.
To know Monique was a privilege. To love her was a gift. Her life stands as a quiet, powerful example of beauty, intellect, devotion, and grace—and of a love so complete it continues beyond this world.
A Requiem Mass (Latin Rite) for Monique will take place on Saturday, January 24 at 11:30 am at Holy Family Parish, 1372 King St W, Toronto, with a reception to follow in the parish hall, where all are welcome to honour the beautiful life Monique lived and the love she gave so generously.
Please share your stories, favourite memories, and photos of Monique at her digital memorial guestbook https://my.guestpix.com/guest/access/133601/YtXnOdmU
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL, HOLY FAMILY CONFERENCE at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-society-of-st-vincent-de-paul-holy-family-conference/
Monique was raised in Port Elgin alongside her identical twin, Suzanne, and their older sister, Rachelle. When her parents moved the family to a home in the country, it became Monique’s safe haven for nearly fifty years. The family bond was strong—her dad steady and unwavering, offering support through every challenge, and her mom deeply committed to family life, working tirelessly each day to ensure everything was cared for and that a family meal was always on the table each night.
In her youth, Monique spent her time outdoors—swinging from the willow tree, walking to her special spot at the bridge, admiring her mom’s flowers, and naming the many cats. Through the constant love and support of her parents, she learned independence and empathy.
In later years, little had changed. Every visit to the family home was special; whether spending time at the beach or sitting on the porch swing, it always felt like home. In 2024, after her mother’s passing, Rachelle, Monique, and their dad took on the monumental task of packing up the house. Even in her grief, Monique ensured the new family felt welcomed, leaving small tokens in each room for their children to discover.
From their earliest days, Monique and Suzanne shared a rare and radiant bond—full of laughter, creativity, and deep, instinctive understanding. They were inseparable, finishing each other’s thoughts and moving through life in joyful rhythm. United by art, fashion, and self-expression, they delighted in being twins—embracing attention, bold style, and exuberant dance with pure glee. They brought each other immeasurable love and happiness, and each was the other’s greatest joy. To know Monique was to know how completely Suzanne lived in her heart. The twins later moved to Toronto to pursue their artistic callings and to experience the freedom and richness of city life. They attended Arts College and fully embraced the alternative creative community that shaped their voices as a visual artists. Toronto became Monique’s home for most of her adult life—first alongside Suzanne, and later with the great love of her life, her husband Skot Kortje, and his daughters, Brianna and Mickyla, whom she loved and embraced as her own.
Since their chance meeting in 1995 at Kilgours Bar Meets Grill, Monique and Skot grew to share a love that was deep, intentional, and beautifully intertwined. They delighted in the quiet intimacy of daily life—creating rituals, planning their days with care, and making everything feel thoughtful and elegant, even with limited means. They loved swimming together, taking long walks, exercising, dancing, and simply being in one another’s company. Neither wanted much beyond the other’s presence. They were true partners in every sense—matched in rhythm, laughter, and devotion. As Skot often shared, Monique was the only dance partner with whom he ever felt so completely and naturally in sync.
Monique was immensely funny and quick-witted, with a sharp intelligence that matched her beauty and sensitivity. Those who knew her deeply knew how brilliant she was—articulate, perceptive, and thoughtful, with a remarkable ability to communicate and connect. Her empathy was instinctive, her insight profound, and her mind lively and curious. This intelligence was foundational to her closest relationships and made her bond with Skot, one of true soulmates.
Monique was many things to many people: a gifted and trained visual artist, a devoted caregiver, a homemaker, a gracious hostess, a confidant, and a lover of music, nature, swimming, seafood, and sunsets. She was deeply feminine, kind, silly, and wonderfully warm. She had a rare gift for making people feel safe, seen, and cherished. Everything she touched—whether a canvas, a table setting, a room, or a heart—she made more beautiful.
Monique was an animal lover and a devoted “fur-baby” mother to her cats. She found joy in hosting, volunteering with Holy Family Church, and opening her home with generosity and grace. Her faith was quiet but steadfast, expressed through service, nurturing, and love.
She was also deeply brave. After enduring the unimaginable loss of her twin sister Suzanne, Monique carried grief with tenderness and faith, becoming a gentle companion to others who suffered. Since Suzanne’s passing, Monique longed for reunion, and it brings her family peace to believe that the twins are now together again, embraced in benevolent and eternal love.
In recent illness, Monique received what she called her “best medicine”: caring for her infant grandson, Sheppard. Being a grandmother filled her with profound joy. She was a smitten Grammo—gentle, attentive, and endlessly loving—and she will be deeply missed by all her grandchildren.
Monique leaves behind a rich and lasting legacy through her artwork and her deeply moving memoir, With Every Brushstroke (https://www.witheverybrushstroke.com/), which stands as a testament to her creativity, vulnerability, intelligence, and grace.
She is survived by her loving husband, Skot Kortje; step-daughters, Brianna and Mickyla; grandson, Sheppard; step-son, Daniel (Galena); and granddaughters, Sophia and Olivia; father, Norm Richard; sister, Rachelle Mack (Alex); nephews, Sharif(Julia and daughter Amelia) and Ehren; and extended family of Pam, Neil, Liam and her many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Carmella, and her twin sister, Suzanne.
To know Monique was a privilege. To love her was a gift. Her life stands as a quiet, powerful example of beauty, intellect, devotion, and grace—and of a love so complete it continues beyond this world.
A Requiem Mass (Latin Rite) for Monique will take place on Saturday, January 24 at 11:30 am at Holy Family Parish, 1372 King St W, Toronto, with a reception to follow in the parish hall, where all are welcome to honour the beautiful life Monique lived and the love she gave so generously.
Please share your stories, favourite memories, and photos of Monique at her digital memorial guestbook https://my.guestpix.com/guest/access/133601/YtXnOdmU
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL, HOLY FAMILY CONFERENCE at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-society-of-st-vincent-de-paul-holy-family-conference/
Funeral Details
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Mass
Holy Family Parish
1372 King St W, Toronto, ON, M6K 1H3
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Saturday, 24 Jan 2026 11:30 AM