Jessica Lee Connors Steel went home to be with Jesus on Monday, April 4^, 2011.

Born on February 11, 1974 in Ithaca, Jessica was the daughter of William and Rhonda (Criss) Connors. She graduated from Ithaca High School in 1992. Throughout her high school years, Jessica worked with the Enfield Community Council, was involved in numerous dramas, and was an active member of her church youth group. She attended SUNY Brockport and earned her Associates Degree in 1999 from Tompkins County Community College. Jessica worked at the Franziska Racker Center for several years.

Jessica had an enormous heart for children with special needs. Her hearts desire was to be a mother and she was blessed with five beautiful children whom she loved dearly. Jessica’s caring heart and warm spirit will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Jessica is survived by her husband, David Forest Steel; children, Kyiah, Autumn, Matthew, Dacia, and Cody; parents, William B. and Rhonda Connors; her sisters and best friends, Brandee (Kevin) Berggren and Barbara (Thomas) Dunham; maternal grandparents, Calvin and Martha Criss; paternal grandmother, Ruth Connors; two aunts which held a special place in Jessica’s heart, Carolyn Hranek and Audrey Morgan; an uncle, Tim Criss; mother in law, Margaret McFiggins; brothers in law Matthew (Donna) Steel, George (Marcia) Steel, and Johnny Steel; sisters in law, Mary (Ray) Wheaton and Margaret (Howard) Matt; nieces and nephews, Kacey, Kaleb, Natalie, Ryland, Ray, Debbie, Yvonne, Jim, Paul, and Holley; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended church family.   

Funeral Services will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Living Water Christian Fellowship, 162 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, with Pastors Chris Lynch, David Leonard, Jim Clark, and Jack Osburn officiating. Prayers of committal will follow at Enfield Christian Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to make a contribution in Jessica’s name to kindly make checks payable to the Jessica Steel Children’s Trust and mail to the Tompkins Trust Company, PO Box 702, Trumansburg, NY 14886.