Shelley Inserra loses battle with cancer

A mother of seven children died Wednesday night after a battle with cancer.

Shelley Inserra died at about 9:30 p.m. at Barnes Jewish Hospital while surrounded by family and loved ones. She was 38 years old.

Fundraisers for Shelley and her family were held in the Park Hills and Bonne Terre area last year. She was diagnosed with cancer in October. It had already spread to her lungs.

Shelley, who loved children, worked for the Presbyterian Children’s Home in Farmington. Her husband, Todd, is a Park Hills police officer and has also worked for Terre Du Lac Police. His brother, Troy, had worked for Bonne Terre Police.

Shelley and Todd have seven children, ranging from a year old to 13 years old.

“She will be very missed,” a family spokesperson said Thursday. “She was well thought of by every place she ever worked.”

Friends had fundraisers and set up the Todd Inserra Trust Fund for medical bills, etc. The police department, with the help of area businesses, held a trivia night. Cadets at the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy had a barbecue. Strangers collected donations at an intersection in Bonne Terre. The River Hills Restaurant also raised money.

The family was overwhelmed and thankful for the support of the community. The family spokesperson said the only reason they are having the funeral here and not in the St. Louis area where they are both from is because the community in St. Francois County has showed so much support.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre.

Visitation will resume at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Boyer Funeral Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Bonne Terre with Rev. John Schneider officiating.

Memorials may still be made to the trust fund, which is set up at New Era Bank in Park Hills.

Park Hills Police Chief Bill Holloway said the police department will be planning future fundraisers.