Brittany Maynard, Elective Death Advocate, Dies at 29

Brittany Maynard, the 29-year old woman who became the voice of the Death With Dignity movement, ended her life on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at her home in Portland, Oregon. Brittany is survived by her husband, Daniel Diaz. 

Maynard was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor earlier this year. After being given a limited amount of time to live, Maynard spoke publicly about her plan to end her own life.

Read more about Brittany Maynard’s Decision

“Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me … but would have taken so much more,” she wrote on Facebook. “The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type … Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!”

Read the full story: Terminally Ill Woman Brittany Maynard Has Ended Her Own Life

On Sunday, Brittany’s family published her official obituary. The document details Brittany’s love of travel and adventure and her decision to move to Oregon in order to have access to resources that would enable her to legally end her own life.

Brittany Lauren Maynard was born in 1984 and forged a brief but solid 29 years of generosity, compassion, education, travel and humor. She happily met her husband, Daniel Diaz, in April of 2007, and they married, as best friends, five years later in September of 2012.

This past year, on New Year’s Day, Brittany was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was given a terminal diagnosis for which there was no cure or life-saving measures available. In the face of such illness and pain, Brittany chose to live each day fully, traveled, and kept as physically active and busy as she possibly could.

View Brittany’s Official Obituary