Jessica Starr, the meteorologist in Detroit who committed suicide last month, leaving behind her husband and two young children, was remembered during a memorial service as a go-getter who left an indelible mark on family, friends, colleagues and viewers alike.
Mourners gathered Saturday at Oak Pointe Church in Novi, where relatives and co-workers led a celebration of life service for the 35-year-old Fox 2 Detroit meteorologist who hanged herself on Dec. 12.
Starr, who lived with her husband, Dan, 40, and their two children, 5-year-old Noah and 3-year-old Riley Rose, was remembered as a kind soul whose rise in the television industry from her humble beginnings became a source of pride for her extended family, the Detroit Free Press reports.
“In life, we understand that hope is the essence of life,” Starr’s uncle and godfather, Paul Digby, told mourners. “It makes the journey easier. It keeps telling us that tomorrow will be better than today. Although Jessica did not have the opportunity to complete the circle of life, her legacy and spirit lives on through Noah and Riley.”
Digby also suggested that those in attendance live their lives as his niece did, saying: “May you always see the light in other people.”
But Digby acknowledged that the family is still desperately searching for answers after her death, which followed her recovery from Lasik surgery in October. The procedure caused her to miss several weeks at work and to suffer from dry eyes, the Detroit Free Press previously reported.
“Most of us are still on the ‘whys,’ the ‘what-ifs,’” Digby continued. “How did we not all see this coming? Did we miss the signs? This was so out of character for someone I’ve known for 35 years.”
Former colleagues of Starr’s echoed that sentiment, but also focused on her infectious smile and the “incredible gift” she provided to thousands and thousands of viewers, the Detroit News reports.
“There has been a lot of reflection in the last three weeks, how did it end, when did it end and why didn’t we have more time?” Fox 2 news anchor Roop Raj said, according to the newspaper. “But instead of staying in that moment, I choose to give thanks for the eight years we had with Jessica Starr because she was an incredible gift to this community.”
Raj also read some of the memories provided to him by Starr’s relatives and other colleagues who were still too distraught to speak publicly about her death.
“Her laugh was infectious, her smile was profound,” Raj said, recalling words from Starr’s brother, Ryan Starr. “She never took herself too seriously and would tell me people can get the weather on their phone now, but people did need her because you can’t get your local weather any better way than from someone like Jess. This loss will leave a hole in my heart forever but my life is much better now because of her.”
Starr’s mother, Carol, said she felt “blessed” to have brought the Michigan State University and Mississippi State University graduate into the world.
“We miss her,” Raj told mourners, relaying Carol Starr’s final memories of her daughter. “I miss her. Her bright smile and funny laugh will live on forever in our hearts. She put sunshine in my life. I’m not a weather forecaster or meteorologist. I know the forecast today is dreary, dark and sad, but I know that when the sun comes back out again and you see it shining through the clouds, each and every one of us will look up and say we are glad we knew the warmth of Jessica.”
An online fundraiser set up to “rebuild” the family’s lives had eclipsed $12,000 as of Wednesday.