Brenda Maltese died Sunday evening at the age of 56 from complications related to her battle with very aggressive anaplastic thyroid cancer.

A lover of fitness and the outdoors, Brenda was a yoga instructor and personal trainer for ten years, and ascended Mount Whitney with Reach the Top. She was also a member of the Lompoc Photographers Guild, Lompoc Civic Theatre, and Lompoc Museum. Her compassion for people led her to repeatedly volunteer for American Cancer Society fundraisers and Ventura County Stand Downs.

Brenda saw the beauty in everyone she met. She turned none away who asked for her help, and often went out of her way to assist those who did not ask. Even while she was battling cancer, she was always concerned more about those around her than herself. Her inner beauty lit up the room when she smiled, even during her final days and hours of life in the hospital.

Brenda is survived by her husband Benjamin, and child Nathan Watson. A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 1st at 1 pm, at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc. In lieu of flowers and memorial gifts, please send donations in her memory to City of Hope Los Angeles.