Jessica Anne Pasquarello Vashaw

March 28, 1984- November 18, 2010

Jessica Vashaw passed away at home in Concord, NH early Thursday morning, surrounded by family and friends, after a five year battle with breast cancer. She was 26.

Jess was born in Langhorne, PA and was raised in Boyertown, PA, the daughter of Joseph and Cheryl Pasquarello, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire’s Nursing program in 2006, where she met her husband, Riley Vashaw of Whitefield. Although nearly her entire adult life was shadowed by cancer, Jess did not let the disease define her. Instead, she continued to pursue her dreams and ambitions with unmatched tenacity. She completed her undergraduate nursing program, worked in the Surgical ICU at Fletcher Allen Hospital, ran the Burlington City Marathon and rowed for Dragonheart, VT, got married, earned a degree in Nurse Anesthesiology from the University of New England in November 2010, did service work, traveled, and lived life fully, all around her surgeries and treatments.

Jess’s life was defined by deep relationships, and these were the foundation of her strength. She brought her love of people and medicine to the Galapagos Islands where she and Riley served on the first medical mission team to the island of San Cristobol. She was passionate about snowboarding, running, and hiking, her dog, Emma, nephew Aidan, traveling, medicine, and defying the odds. When told there was something she couldn’t do, she attacked it head on.

She is survived by her parents and husband, as well her sister Kristina (Pasquarello) New of Norfolk, VA, nephew Aidan and niece Sophia, maternal grandparents William and Cora Slater of New Port Richey, FL, paternal grandmother Concetta Pasquarello of Philadephia, PA, many aunts, uncles and cousins, the family of Rick and Micki Vashaw of Whitefield, NH, and countless friends.

A memorial service in her honor will be held on Monday, November 22nd at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (previously the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium- 2 Institute Dr., Concord, NH), from 3-6PM Monday, November 22, 2010. A non-denominational celebration of life will occur at 4:30PM. Quiet reflection space under the night sky of June 21, 2008 (their wedding day) will be available until 6:30pm.