‘Survivor’ star, youth pastor Sunday Burquest dies of cancer at 50

Sunday Burquest, the inspirational youth pastor contestant on 2016’s “Survivor: Millenials vs. Gen X,” died Sunday after a battle with esophageal and ovarian cancer, her second cancer battle in a decade. She was 50.

Her daughter, Kennedy Burquest, paid tribute to “my unbelievably beautiful mama” on Instagram Sunday.

“Thank you for fighting as hard as you did for as long as you did. Thank you for being a best friend, a role model, a sister, and my mother all in one. Thank you for raising me to love Jesus, and show that love to others,” Kennedy wrote. “I love you to heaven and back a million times. I know one day we will meet again. Until then, I’ll spend every minute missing you, and trying to make you proud. Rest easy mom.”

“Survivor” host Jeff Probst paid tribute to Sunday on Instagram, writing she “had one of the brightest smiles of any person to ever play ‘Survivor.’ She radiated kindness and understanding to anyone lucky enough to be in her presence.”

He added, “She seemed to understand better than most, that life is for living, so say yes to life whenever possible.”

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Burquest had written about her cancer battle in 2018’s “Grit Girl: Power to Survive,” and gave motivational speeches about pulling by way of the ordeal, relying closely on her Christian religion. Diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2012, she underwent 5 surgical procedures, eight rounds of chemotherapy and 28 days of radiation, Burquest wrote in her “Survival” profile.

“I’m still here! It was important to me that my kids saw me as a ‘warrior, rather than as a whiner,” she wrote. “Of course, it was hard, but I wouldn’t let cancer take over my life. Because of my faith, I was able to kick cancer’s butt!”

In a June 7 Instagram video Burquest introduced she was preventing esophageal and ovarian cancer.

“You know how they say when it rains it pours? Well, it really poured on me today,” Burquest stated within the video, pointing to her shirt that learn, “I survived esophageal and ovarian cancer.”

“When did I survive that? Well, I’m going to do it right now because today I was told that I had both, that esophageal cancer started and traveled to my ovary,” she continued. “But I will say that I do know that I have already survived cancer once and I will survive it again.”

Burquest, a mom of 4 who listed her occupation as a youth pastor, was the oldest lady contestant on “Survivor: Millenials vs. Gen X” at 45. She pulled off a seventh place end because the 14th contestant voted ffon day 35.

Zeke Smith, who was additionally on “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X,” posted a tribute to Sunday on Instagram.

“I will love you and remember you for all my days, Darling Sunday,”Smith captioned a photograph of the late contestant. “Your kindness and selflessness have changed me and so many others. I miss you. Pouring out a Diet Coke in your honor. #RestInPower.”

Sam Smith, who was voted the winner of the thirty third season in 2016, provided Kennedy his condolences on her Instagram publish.

“You are your mom in so many ways, Kennedy. She always saw you that way,” Smith wrote in a remark. “When I look at you I see her, too. I will get to see my friend Sunday as I watch you on your journey, as the grit girl you know that you are. Your special connection with your mom will always carry you through the tough decisions and important moments in your life … She will guide you, until you meet again.”

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