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Shari Riley of Chesterfield died Saturday at ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University hospital. She was diagnosed with appendix cancer more than four years ago. Riley grew up in Florissant near the creek, which runs past the airport and was contaminated with uranium, thorium and radium starting in the 1940s from the dumping of nuclear waste associated with atomic bomb production.

In 2013, Riley connected with a group of McCluer North High School graduates who had noticed a spike in diseases among their classmates who graduated in the late 1980s and early 1990s. More former neighbors joined the group's Facebook page, where a striking number of appendix cancer cases were counted. The group's work caught the attention of health officials, and the ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ County health department recently hired three epidemiologists to study any connections between Coldwater Creek and cancers in the community.

Riley helped organize the appendix cancer cases, which have now reached more than 40 in the surrounding area. The rare cancer is diagnosed in fewer than 1 in 314,000 Americans each year. Dr. Graham Colditz of Washington University has said the number of appendix cancers in North County is larger than expected for the population.

"Shari painstakingly got in touch with each person ... trying to support people and get them together," said Jenell Wright, one of the Coldwater Creek Facebook group's leaders. "She understood it instantly because of her medical background."

Riley, a registered nurse, last served as an administrator of patient safety and customer service at Ranken Jordan pediatric hospital in Maryland Heights.

"She just embraced the mission and vision of the hospital," said Lauri Tanner, CEO of Ranken Jordan. "She loved being a nurse and she was very passionate about good nursing care. She was funny and spunky and spicy and smart and she was always had time to listen."

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Incarnate Word Catholic Church, 13416 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield. The family requests memorial contributions may be made to Ranken Jordan.