News

Jessica Elizabeth Prost, a student in the School of Nursing's anesthesia program, died following a year-long battle with brain cancer on Friday, March 29.

Jesssica's obituary is posted here.

The family will receive friends at the Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin, Missouri, Friday, April 5 from 2-8 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Incarnate Word Catholic Church, 13416 Olive Boulevard, Chesterfield, Missouri on Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m.

Her classmates Kristen Mattson, Lauren Hunt, Alexa Brummund, Messy Dedic and Rick Heuermann spoke of her bright personality and her nursing ambitions.

"It is hard to describe the kind of person Jessica was in just a few words," said her friends Mattson, Hunt, Brummund and Heuermann. "To know Jessica was to love Jessica. Nobody was ever a stranger to her, as she had the tendency to light up every room that she walked into. Her positive attitude and contagious smile brought so much joy to others throughout the rigors of anesthesia school. Even after multiple surgeries & harsh chemotherapy/radiation treatments, Jessica continued to show up for her patients, friends, and family. Jessica’s lifelong dream was to graduate and begin practicing as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Jessica was so much more than a classmate and anesthesia student to us. She was a lifelong friend that everyone wanted to be surrounded by. While our hearts are broken by the passing of our best friend, we will honor her achievements as we walk across the stage and graduate in a few weeks. We know Jessica will proudly be looking down on us and smiling!

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the SIUE Nurse Anesthesia faculty and students. Your support over this last year has helped carry us through this difficult time."

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Washington University’s Brain Tumor Center.

PHOTO: Jessica Prost, courtesy of Schrader Funeral Home