Memorial service for missing camper Jessica Stephens to be held in Whitsundays

Loved ones of missing mum Jessica Stephens who tragically died in the Northern Territory will celebrate her life at a service to be held in North Queensland.

A memorial service will be held in the Whitsundays for Jessica Louise Stephens, who went missing in Kakadu National Park in October 2023.

Loved ones of missing camper Jessica Stephens who tragically died at Kakadu National Park will celebrate the beautiful mum-of-one in a moving service in the Whitsundays after her family were told they could “bring her home”.

The 35-year-old disappeared while camping near Nourlangie Rock, about 36km south of Jabiru in the Northern Territory.

She last spoke to her family on October 16 and her Whitsunday-based mother Karon Evans raised the alarm three days later sparking an intense land and air search for the missing mother involving rangers, police, helicopters and drones across 200kms of parks and roads.

A memorial service will be held in the Whitsundays for Jessica Louise Stephens, who went missing in Kakadu National Park in October.

NT police revealed the search at uncovered personally items “found quite a way from the track” and deep in the “rock part of Nourlangie Rocks”.

Tragically about 1pm on Saturday, October 28 officers found Ms Stephens’ body near Nourlangie Rock with the likely cause of death linked to extreme heat with police revealing those searching for the missing woman were confronted by 50 degree heat.

Ms Stephens’ family will hold a service honouring her memory at Cannonvale and are inviting those who loved her to be a part of the service.

Nourlangie Rock (Burrungkuy) in Kakadu National Park.

“We have been given the go ahead from the Coroners office that we can now bring Jess home,” Ms Evans shared on her Facebook.

“The service will not be a traditional one but one that we think Jess would have preferred.”

Ms Evans has requested “no flowers please” as Ms Stephens’ daughter “will be choosing the flowers for her mum”.

Ms Stephen had not lived in the Whitsundays area long, she said.

“We hope you can join us on this emotional day so as we can support one another in our grief, sadness and remembering the happy times of Jess’s life,” Ms Evans said.

“Ross and I would also like to thank all those that donated to the GoFundMe and privately to help us with funds to go towards bringing Jess home.”

Jess’s Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on November 28 at 11am.