Jessie was the second of three daughters born to Nicholas Henry and Patricia Gibbs Joralemon in Orange, New Jersey. Jessie grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, graduated from Livingston High School, and attended Gibbs College where she studied stenotyping. Thereafter, Jessie moved west to California in 1970 and had a long career with NBC in Burbank. In 1980, she met and married Michael Anthony Bourke. Together they had three children, Allison, Tracy and Charles. She continued her career at NBC until 1994 when the family moved to Prescott, Arizona. In Prescott, Jessie faithfully volunteered for many non-profits including her children's schools, Planned Parenthood, People Who Care, and Good Samaritan Hospice. She also attended and enjoyed classes at Yavapai College -- with many semesters of water aerobics.

In 2019, Jessie and Michael moved to Broomfield, Colorado to be closer to their children. There she volunteered for the Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge. In 2023, Jessie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. However, Jessie joyfully celebrated the marriage of her daughter and birth of her grandson Graham in the last year of her life. Jessie was truly unconventional and not afraid to be herself. She had courage, spunk, empathy for others, and the biggest heart for both people and animals.