Age 38 of Joliet, Illinois, passed away on December 26, 2026 at Humboldt Hospital in Chicago.

She was born on September 9, 1987 in Joliet, Illinois. Jessica's life was marked by deep kindness, warmth and a heart that gave freely---sometimes almost to a fault. She was the kind of person who could not eat without insisting that those around her share in whatever she had. That instinct to give, to include and to love openly was simply who she was. Jessica faced addiction in the last years of her life, a struggle that pulled her away physically at time but never defined the fullness of who she was. Her greatest joys were her children, Amyah Nguyen and RJ (Rafel) Romero Jr.

No matter how hard things became, she thought of them constantly and never missed an opportunity to call, reminding them how deeply and fiercely she loved loved them.

She is survived by her loving parents, Carolyn Tait and Robert Tait; her sister, Jennifer Tait (Jason Carmen); and her beloved children, Amyah and RJ, who were the center of her world.

Jessica was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Joan Patton and her paternal grandmother, Marion Tait. Jessica will be remembered not for her struggles, but for her generous spirit, her tenderness and the love she gave so freely. Her kindness lives on in the hearts of those who knew her and most importantly, in her children.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jessica's memory to Stepping Stones, a treatment center supporting recovery and hope: www.steppingstonestreatment.com/donate