Obituary of Riley Matthew James Burgess

Age: 21, passed away suddenly at home on Thursday, March 24th in Truro, Nova Scotia. Riley loved to laugh, and he had a smile for everyone he met. He loved his family and his friends more than anything else in the world and there was nothing he would not have done for them, especially his younger sisters. Riley is survived by his father, Jacob Burgess, his mother, Tabitha Downton, his sisters, Emma, Makayla, Isabella and Quinn. He is also survived by his grandparents, James and Sherry Downton and Glenda (Ron) Burgess and David (Janet) Daniels. Riley will also be remembered by his aunts and uncles who built their own special bonds with him throughout his life. Life wasn’t always easy or kind to Riley, but that didn’t stop him from holding his head high and his heart open. Beyond his family, he will be dearly remembered by his friends who in turn became his chosen family. Riley was the kindest person anyone could ever hope to meet, he was generous and thoughtful, and he cared about the people closest to him, whether that be by blood or by choice. Riley’s laughter and his smile were infectious, and he had a real sense of adventure. He loved mudding and loved to be outdoors with his friends. Riley would want to be remembered for the days spent in the woods getting dirty, hanging out around a fire, and laughing, he had the best laugh. Riley would want us to remember that the most important thing in life is to be there for the people you love and to take care of one another because he loved us all. Cremation has taken place and at this time there will be no service, however a memorial will be held at a later date.