Brenda Gayle Griffin

Brenda was born in Prescott, Arizona, November 1st, 1962. She passed Sunday, September 13th on her favorite day of the week and on her favorite number 13 after a diagnosis of an extremely sudden, aggressive cancer which she accepted bravely, courageously, graciously and at times sarcastically. She was surrounded by loved ones at the beautiful Sharp Hospice Lakeview facility which provided a loving and home-like environment for Brenda and her loved ones. Brenda lived in San Diego County most of her life growing up in Chula Vista, California. She attended Vista Square Elementary, Chula Vista Junior High and graduated from Chula Vista High School with Honors and CSF Life Membership in 1980. She graduated from San Diego State University Magna Cum Laude and was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a Portuguese minor in 1985. She was awarded her Master’s degree in Spanish in 1992. During her entirely too short life she touched ALL she met as evidenced from the comments of those who knew her: always sweet, beautiful, intelligent, fun, kind, bright and lovely, infectious laugh, wonderful sense of humor, kind heart, humble, brave, courageous, witty. Brenda was a master of the Spanish language, often surprising even native speakers. She loved traveling so she could learn the culture and practice her skills (well, and she LOVED traveling!). She had a varied career life working for the San Diego Union Tribune, NBC, Prudential Dunn Realtors, and Yavapai College, and had planned to return to San Diego Mesa College, before cancer interfered, where she began her teaching career as an adjunct professor teaching Spanish. She is survived by her sisters Nancee and Sandee Griffin, her 15 y/o “fur baby” companion Soprano, cousins, nephews, nieces, countless friends, colleagues, clients, classmates and students. She is predeceased by her parents George and Sylvia “Sue” Griffin. A Celebration of Life is being planned for Sunday November 1st, her birthday from 2:00 – 4:30 PM at Rose Creek Cottage 2525 Garnet Ave., San Diego CA 92109. Please RSVP to Jerri Walters, [email protected]. We wish to thank all those involved who helped support and love Brenda and ourselves during this journey (and you know who you are). “God is good, God is love, God is wisdom. Keep good thought in your mind. Release bad plots, look at the sunny side, forgive and forget forever. Life is beautiful, but don’t let things like jealousy, envy or hate. Concentrate and enjoy your very own life, regardless of what you have or don’t have.” Written by Brenda Griffin at age 8 in 1970