Minnesota’s Kenyan Community Bids Farewell to Nurse Jessica Omoke

Members of Minnesota’s Kenyan diaspora gathered on Friday to honour Jessica Omoke, a nurse and mother whose funeral service was held at The Edge Church in Brooklyn Park.

The service, which began in the morning, was attended by mourners from across the United States. Family members, healthcare colleagues, church congregants and community members came together to celebrate her life and pay their respects. Omoke was later buried at Gethsemane Cemetery in New Hope, followed by a repast in the afternoon.

Omoke worked as a nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, where colleagues said she was respected for her dedication to patient care and her ability to support patients and families during difficult moments. Friends and fellow healthcare workers described her as a committed professional who encouraged and supported those around her.

Her faith played a central role in her life. As an active member of United Central SDA Church, she took part in community outreach programmes and mentored younger members of the congregation. Church leaders remembered her as a woman of strong faith whose service extended beyond the church.

Relatives described her as a devoted wife to James and a caring mother to her three daughters, Rachael, Silvia and Keziah. Her death occurred only hours before her twin daughters’ graduation, turning what had been expected to be a day of celebration into one of mourning.

Following her passing, members of the Kenyan community launched efforts to support her family. A GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $60,000 (about KSh7.2 million) to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial assistance.

The fundraiser was organised by Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley, a Kenyan-born lawmaker in the United States, who described Omoke as a dedicated healthcare professional and an important member of the community.

The support offered by friends, relatives and community members reflects the close ties within the Kenyan diaspora. Those who knew Omoke said her commitment to her family, faith and profession left a lasting impact on the people and institutions she served.