Jessica Deelstra

Jess Our sweet daughter, sister, and aunt, Jessica Deelstra, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Jessica came to this earth with a happy, positive, and feisty personality, which served her well through her battle with esophageal cancer.

As a little girl, Jessica developed a special relationship with her Grandma Sprouse and learned sign language to communicate with her. She could often be found cruising around on her bike, watching Barney, Sesame Street, Hannah Montana, and visiting with friends and neighbors.

Jessica loved school and was a proud Lancer. You could find her at all Layton High events and she loved being an honorary cheerleader.

You knew Jessica was around if there was a Pepsi in the fridge you couldn’t touch, bags of candy laying around, a cute giggle, and someone ready to scare you around every corner. Jessica loved to walk to Walmart and came home with all sorts of treasures. One particular trip, her love of sewing took the lead and she brought home four bolts of Disney Frozen fabric that she generously made into a nightgown for her niece, pillow cases for everyone, and then casually cut up the rest. She looked forward to her weekly sewing class with friends.

Jessica loved watching all sports and spent a lot of time helping her dad coach her brother’s teams. She had a wide girth of knowledge and was looking forward to the NBA Finals-Go Mavs! Jessica wasn’t always just a spectator. She loved participating in Special Olympics with her friends and was an impressive swimmer and bowler. She was known to be the first one in the pool and the last one out. She had numerous medals she proudly displayed in her room-along with her large stuffed animal collection, unicorn paraphernalia , and all things purple.

Jessica had a childlike heart and loved big. She greeted everyone with the best hug and the biggest smile. She always made you feel like a million bucks and let you know how happy she was to see you. You couldn’t go anywhere without Jessica seeing an old friend, making a new friend and everyone feeling like they were her best friend. Jessica was a social butterfly.

She loved going to the singles ward and had to say “hi” to everyone. It was at the singles ward that she met her dearest friend, Christina Whitecar. Christina and Jessica spent countless hours playing Nintendo, spending way too much money at Rush, delivering Door Dash, watching movies, playing with Christina’s dog, Bowzer, and just hanging out. Christina opened Jessica’s world for the better and we are forever grateful for the friendship and generosity she showed her. 

Sam, Laurie, and Jessica were the three amigos and did everything together. Jessica was a mini-me of her dad. If he liked it, you can bet she did too. Together they shared a love of music-especially classic rock, cars, sports, and the Philadelphia Eagles. She loved trips to Wendover with her mom, aunts, and grandma. She was a good luck charm and always came home with winnings that she celebrated with her signature fist pull and a “YESSSS!”. She also participated in a weekly bowling league with her mom, grandma, and two best friends (Kelsey Hayden & Kayla Stoddard). She had such a special bond with her bowling family. 

Jessica is survived by her parents Sam and Laurie Deelstra, brother, Jason Deelstra and wife Shaylee Hatch Deelstra. Jessica loved being an aunt and was so proud of her three nieces Brooklyn, Reagan, and Jane and two nephews Briggs and Griff. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to: https://give.huntsmancancer.org/page/66450/donate/1?locale=en-US

Services will be held Monday June 17 at 1:00 p.m. at the Syracuse Canterbury Park Ward, 1285 S. 2500 W. Syracuse, Utah. Friends and family may visit Sunday June 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah and Monday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton