Jessica Marylee Roil

Born in Halifax on June 5, 1995 to Tammy Dorman (Née Lemoine) and David Bellefontaine. Jessica was raised in a loving home by her mother, Tammy; Nan, Susan Lemoine; and father, Darrell Cole. A family that she cared for and looked up to through her whole life. She filled her life with music, knowledge, and especially love. She had the biggest heart and always shared it, whether with her family, friends or a stranger on the street. Jessica had a way of making everyone around her feel important and special. She gave her time, energy, and resources to others before herself and she always showed up, even when it was difficult. She was always concerned for those around her before herself, even in her final days.

Curiosity shaped Jessica’s path in the most interesting and meaningful ways. She was endlessly inquisitive, eager to learn and always diving deeply into subjects that fascinated her (no matter how niche). She loved learning more and growing from it, and took pride in being capable, dependable, and knowledgeable. This is evident in her constant pursuit of different careers aligned to her evolving passions. A registered pharmacy technician, certified lab assistant, and recent acceptant into the LPN program at NSCC. Jessica spent most of her adult life working in healthcare, inspired by her aunt Jen and always looking for new ways for help people.

An important element of comfort for Jessica was her belief systems. Her journey from religion to spirituality was a product of necessity rather than choice, but in that transition she was opened to an infinite number of philosophies to explore. Jessica loved learning about different faiths and would often engage in enlightening conversations with Cole’s aunt Anne Marie and uncle Paul, retired Theology professors. She would leave these conversations flush with excitement to learn more, do her own research and discuss with those around her. She picked her favourite parts and created her own spiritual journey that brought her peace, connection and happiness.

Jessica also found happiness in the smallest details of life. She loved her daily rituals, like skincare, doing her hair and makeup, and many other moments of self expression like her well done nails or hair coloured to match her vibe at the time. She also loved tattoos and approached each one thoughtfully, not just as a piece of art, but as a story reflecting who she was at that moment in time, turning her body into a novel.

As much as Jessica loved her career and other passions, she found her greatest joy in the life she was building with her husband, Cole. Their story began in early in childhood, meeting first in elementary school where they would walk home together everyday, two messy-haired rejects who found comfort and friendship in each other. After changing schools and some years apart, Jessica and Cole later reconnected after high school, now as young adults still finding their way, but falling deeply in love. Whether in big gestures or the small moments in between Cole made Jessica feel seen, known and loved. A beautiful example of this is taking Jessica’s favourite flower, sunflowers, which always made her smile and feel warm and incorporating them into his proposal. He brandished them onto a custom ring box that he built by hand and then took her to a sunflower field to propose among a sea of yellow. They had a love and partnership that made others want more for themselves.

Jessica talked about marriage from a young age, often spending time in the school computer lab planning every detail of her dream wedding with one of her best friends, Brett. Later on Jess would express how she thought through every detail except who she would be marrying and really wanted to focus on that. Being Cole’s wife was very intentional and fulfilled a dream she had carried for most of her life. She was immensely proud of their partnership, finding love, happiness, and a deep sense of belonging in their shared life together. In her final weeks she referenced his steadiness as one of many things that brought her comfort in her final days.

Travel was always an aspiration and Jessica took any opportunity to explore. Big or small, each trip was important to her, whether it was all night drives around the province with her friend Meryl, anniversary getaways with Cole to a cottage or visits out to British Columbia to see her Aunt Jen and brother Logen.It didn’t take much more than the suggestion of an adventure and she was in, even if that adventure was just a sushi date with Cole’s aunt and uncle, Val and Mike or a standing brunch date with her friend Violet.

Jessica was always willing to try something new, especially if it was a way to spend time with loved ones. In September 2022 Jessica, along with her husband Cole and two new friends Karen and Nick, joined BJ and her partner Liam in a new hobby, Dungeons and Dragons. She made characters as unique and charismatic as she was in her daily life, and for four years played weekly sessions. Although she was a little shy at the start, having never played a game like D&D before, she quickly grew into a fantastic role player and helped shape stories that all who participated will remember fondly for the rest of their lives.

Jessica faced a lot of hardship in her life, more than her fair share. She was strong, she was brave and always a fighter. Anyone who knew her will attest that no matter what life threw at her, she never turned bitter, never let it stop her from dreaming big and never stopped her from reaching for the stars. She was feisty, tenacious and would go to battle for what she believed in. The mark she left on this life, and those she touched, is undeniable, irreplaceable and everlasting.

Jessica will be deeply missed and forever loved, cherished and honoured by her husband, Colyer; mother, Tammy Dorman (George); father, Darrell Cole (Denise); god-daughter, Alylah Banks; siblings, Logen Copp, Tabytha Cole, Nathan Cole; aunts, Jennifer Ehirchiou (Hamid), Tina Gray (Ritchie), Tracey Morash, Annette Lewis (Steven), Kim Cole; uncles, Vincent Morash (Shawna), David Hill (Amy), Adam Bellefontaine (Dianne), Chris Miller (Caroline); grandparents, Florence Bellefontaine, Lloyd Morash; great grandmother, Adeline MacDonald; best friends, Brett Pinkham, BJ Walsh, Meryl Morpaw; and an endless list of cousins, close friends and other loved ones who she cared for beyond words.

Jessica was predeceased by her Nan and hero, Susan Lemoine; Nanny, Susan Morash; grandfather, Paul bellefontaine; uncle, Barry jr Studley; great aunt, Nancy Studley.

In keeping with Jessica’s first wish, cremation has taken place. It was Jessica’s next wish to have a casual gathering to celebrate her life, this will take place at Sackawa Canoe Club in Lower Sackville on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, starting with a brief service at 1:00 p.m immediately followed by a reception until 4:00 p.m.

Her final wish was that each space be filled with beauty, light and colours, so anyone wishing to send or bring flowers can do so between 9am and 1pm to:

Sackawa Canoe Club

159 First Lake Dr

Lower Sackville, NS

B4C 3J9