A 32-year-old Shippensburg University librarian died Tuesday from synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.
Ashley Stang Esposito of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was an assistant professor, collections and development assessment librarian. She died in the presence of her family and her husband, John.
Before settling at SU she worked at Merion Mercy Academy in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, according to an obituary from the Synder-Crissman Funeral Home.
Esposito was born on March 22, 1984, in Pittsburgh and grew up in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. She graduated from West Shamokin High School in 2002. She was the class president and salutatorian.
She graduated from Carlow University, Summa Cum Laude, with a degree in library science. Esposito went on to Villanova and Clarion universities to earn two masters degrees — one in library science and the other in English.
A wake for family and friends is being held today in Kittanning to celebrate Esposito’s life. A funeral will be held Saturday, with a visitation at 10 a.m. and the service at 12 p.m. A private internment service will be held Monday.
Esposito was devoutly religious and used her faith to help her through her struggle with cancer.
In place of flowers, she wished for donations be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America. The foundation is a non-profit organization based out of Damascus, Maryland, and works to fund research and further awareness about the disease.
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