Jessica Chapa, 40, of Rupert, Idaho, passed away on Wednesday, February 7 th , 2024, in Boise after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Jessica was born June 8 th , 1983, in Twin Falls, Idaho to Cori Ramirez and Tony Chapa. She came into this world a fighter, the same way she left it. Jessica was born three months premature, only weighing 2 lbs. 7 oz. She underwent multiple heart surgeries and stayed several months at the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jessica’s parents divorced early on in her life. After a few years, she found her home with her Grandpa and Grandma Chapa, Eugene (Gene) and Olivia. As a young adult, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), also known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Despite the difficulties and challenges she faced, Jessica was strongminded and determined. Those who knew Jessica, know that once she made her mind up about something, there was definitely no changing it.
Jessica attended West Minico Jr. High School and graduated from Minico High School in 2003. She loved everything about being a Minico Spartan. If she couldn’t go to the home football games on Friday night, she would sit outside her home, only one mile from the school, and wait to hear the boom of the cannon and see the fireworks go off. She would know this meant Minico had just scored a touchdown.
Jessica had a love for many things, like reading, fishing, and coloring. She loved traveling every summer with her Grandma Olivia to Fort Morgan, Colorado to visit family. She enjoyed going to the local car shows on the weekends, where she would sit for hours and hours with her Grandpa Gene and Grandma Olivia. She also had a huge love for food, with her latest being the raspberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls from Cinnaholic’s.
She is survived by her “daddy,” Tony (Michelle) Chapa of Boise; mother, Cori Ramirez of Eugene, OR.; a half-brother, Stephen K Sprenger of, Barneveld, The Netherlands; along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
We know Jessica left this earth with a smile on her face and was greeted with a heavenly reunion with her loved ones that went before her. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Eugene and Olivia Chapa and maternal grandmother, Corina Ramirez; as well as several Tio’s and Tia’s.
It is hard to believe Jessica is no longer with us in body and she will be deeply missed.
A joint Celebration of Life for Jessica, and her Grandmother, Olivia Chapa, will be held at a later date.