Jessica Lynn Estrada, 14, of San Saba passed away Friday, June 14, 2013 at M.D. Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas after a five-year-long hard-fought battle with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
Funeral services for Jessica will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013 at First Baptist Church in San Saba with Rev. Sam Crosby officiating, interment will follow at San Saba Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at First Baptist Church in San Saba. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Chapel of San Saba.
Jessica was born April 17, 1999 in Llano, Texas to Jose and Tina Estrada. She enjoyed playing softball with her friends until her health became an issue and she could not play anymore. She loved cooking at home but wasn’t so anxious to clean up her soiled dishes; she usually left that for Mom to do. Her dad, Jose, built her an outdoor kitchen for her to enjoy. She was anxious to use her kitchen and it was almost finished. The family cooked tamales and marshmallows on their special “Jessica’s Kitchen”. While in M.D. Anderson, she participated in several art projects, art was another of her passions. Graduation into high school came and went without Jessica being able to participate, but her doctors and nurses had a special graduation party for her with balloons and cupcakes.
She was a stubborn fighter and never gave up on her dream of regaining her health. She was patient with the research that she had to endure, hoping that she could contribute to helping someone with a cure. She never gave up that she would be the one. Her doctors at Cooks Children’s Hospital and M.D. Anderson were amazed at her tenacity and will to get better.
She is survived by her parents, Jose and Tina Estrada of San Saba; three brothers Jonathan Estrada, Joseph Estrada, Juan Carlos Estrada of San Saba; one sister Robyn Estrada of Virginia; grandparents Rose and Jack Chastain of Goldthwaite; maternal grandmother Elaine Chastain of Santa Anna; paternal grandmother Enrriqueta Estrada of Mexico; aunts and uncles, Sandra and Larry Chastain of Burleson, and Jacqueline Chastain of Santa Anna.
She was preceded in death by her uncle Danny Wayne Chastain and two grandmothers Hester Watson and Letha Lawrence.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Children’s Cancer Hospital – University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX. 77030. Online condolences may be left at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.