close
close

Jennifer Farmer, former Y98 radio host, dies of breast cancer at age 49

Jennifer Marie Farmer, a former morning show host Y98, died Oct. 24 in St. Louis after an eight-year battle with breast cancer. She shared her health challenges with listeners who could identify with her vulnerability and resilience.







Jennifer Farmer


Courtesy of Five Petals Photography


Farmer, who grew up in Amherst, New York, had a 26-year career in radio at stations in Buffalo, Des Moines and St. Louis. She was a morning radio host and music director at Y-98 for 15 years until she left in 2022 after her cancer returned.

Listeners woke up to her candor and personal stories about infertility, parenting and her cancer story, which endeared her to people across the region.

“Jen revealed her most intimate details both on and off air, reminding women to take care of their health,” said Guy Phillips, former Y98 host. “Despite her worst days, Jen remained positive and never lost her sense of humor.”

People also read…

  • 101.1 FM ousts Karraker, McLaughlin and Grimsley and replaces them with McKernan's “TMA” show
  • Couple claims they own eight homes in St. Louis County. For the real owners it is a surprise.
  • Convicted St. Louis car bomber Anthony Leisure dies in prison
  • The LA Rams want to buy the training facility in Earth City for $1. The St. Louis athletic department says no possibility.
  • The Cardinals plan to retain cable television and incorporate streaming into their revamped broadcast model: Media Views
  • “Hyatt Regency Becomes Latest Downtown St. Louis Hotel to Face Headwinds”.
  • St. Louis University is laying off 23 employees and freezing 130 positions to cut costs
  • The St. Louis County Special School District is paying some principals $24,000 to leave
  • Is a “vigilante group” taking action against expired vehicle license plates in St. Louis?
  • The Cardinals' new hires and roles are a sign of “change” within the franchise – and there's more to come
  • Jennifer Farmer, former Y98 radio host, dies of breast cancer at age 49
  • Hochman: Rebuilding Cardinals should trade Willson Contreras. It would be a win-win situation.
  • Tips: Edman proves the Cardinals can develop really successful ballplayers
  • Four things to know about new Cardinals coach Brant Brown
  • Cardinals announce new role for Willie McGee, hire Brant Brown as hitting coach







Jen Farmer

Jen Farmer and her family.

Photo courtesy of Jen Farmer


Julie Tristan, host of the morning show on 102.5 KEZK, said getting Farmer to laugh on the show was “audio gold.”

“She had the best laugh, but Jen also wore her heart on her sleeve and she joked that she was the first to cry on the air,” Tristan said.

Her former co-host Courtney Landrum said Farmer connected with listeners by sharing her infertility struggles, the birth of her children Finn and Nora, her cancer diagnosis and her relentless battle.

“The happy things are easy to pass on, but the strength she had to open up about some of the worst things in her life took so much strength. She was ambitious and steadfast and gave hope to people like her who were leading the fight,” Landrum said.

Those closest to her said they were impressed by Farmer's perseverance – even as she struggled with painful and strenuous treatments.

Her friend Meredith Boggess said that for years, Farmer woke up at the crack of dawn, worked all day, went to her children's games, continued to ride horses, met with friends, tried new recipes, read countless novels and cheered on her beloved buffalo Bills.

Farmer helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities including Pedal the Cause, St. Louis Children's Hospital, the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation and Pink Ribbon Good. Teri Griege, president and founder of Powered By Hope, said Farmer is willing to do anything to raise funds — wearing costumes, making silly videos, wrangling crowds and telling personal stories.

“The cancer organizations in our community in particular are forever grateful to Jen,” ​​Griege said.

She is survived by her husband, Ryan; children, Finn and Nora; parents, Paul and Peggy Belliotti; brother Greg Belliotti (Nicole); brother-in-law Justin Farmer (Becky); father-in-law Greg Farmer (Connie); and her nieces and nephews Ava, Hadley, Harper and Landon.

To honor Jen's memory, her family will host a public viewing at the Gathering Church, 2360 McCausland Avenue, on October 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. The memorial service will be private.


Former St. Louis DJ receives priceless souvenir from stranger at Taylor Swift concert

See life in St. Louis through the lens of Post-Dispatch photographers. Edited by Jenna Jones.