Brenda Hinojosa Marshall

Brenda Hinojosa Marshall-beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend to so many passed away on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, January 9th, 2022, from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS- Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Brenda will be remembered not for the way she died, but for the joyous way she lived. Brenda was a proud native-born Texan and was equally proud of her Hispanic roots dating back to the 1500’s in Hinojosa, Spain. Brenda was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1955. Her parents, Jose and Marina along with her dear sister, Celeste, moved to Pensacola, Florida, in 1959. Brenda attended public schools in Pensacola and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, class of 1973. Integration was new to Pensacola in those days. Already recognized for her naturally friendly and inclusive nature, Brenda stepped up to chair the school’s first interracial organization, “United Students” bringing together a core of diverse students who championed BTWHS’s successful transition over the next four years. Brenda attended Pensacola Junior College where she was a member of Zeta Phi Delta sorority. Brenda completed her education in 1977 at the University of Montevallo, earning a B.A. in Fashion Merchandising. While at Montevallo, she joined Chi Omega sorority where she made many lifelong friends. When Steve and Brenda moved to Central Florida in 1982, she quickly immersed herself in her adopted hometown. Brenda was active with the Central Florida Chi Omega Alumni Association and chaired the scholarship committee for many years. Brenda was also a long-standing member of the Greater Orlando Junior League and maintained Sustainer status for many years. Known far and wide for her warm personality, humor, and creativity, among her many talents Brenda made from scratch award winning gingerbread houses during the holidays and baked gourmet cakes for all occasions. Her delicious homemade tortillas, complimented with guacamole and salsa, were legendary. Brenda could paint, sew, make computer art, craft virtually anything and prepare five-star meals. She used every holiday as a reason to celebrate life and treat those she loved. Valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo—any holiday was a day for music, special foods, and festivity. Brenda decorated her home like the North Pole at Christmas and served corned beef & cabbage, green bread, and Irish folk music on St. Patrick’s. Brenda was even known to pour green dye in the commode. What a funny lady! You would have thought she was of Irish descent rather than a proud Tex- Mex Hispanic gal. Her girlfriends called Brenda “Winter Park’s Martha Stewart” in recognition of her creativity and inspiring talents. She could wear Walmart discount fashion and look like Park Avenue because of her style and cleverness. Typically, she donned full costumes at Halloween and Easter. Once, when Britt was in elementary school, Steve was out of town during Father’s Day week. Brenda showed up in the classroom wearing a coat, tie, and mustache so Britt would have a dad present. Brenda relished her role by Steve’s side as Mrs. Claus to Steve’s Santa Claus appearing at Christmas holiday parties for nonprofit organizations and nursing homes. At the age of eight, Brenda started a lifelong fascination with frogs. Brenda was a “frogaholic” with frog fashion, jewelry, flatware, table lamps, shoes, pajamas and more. Of course, her favorite tv/movie star was Kermit the Frog. Rest assured; frog legs were never on the menu at the Marshall’s home. Brenda maintained connections and friendships for life. She was routinely in touch with elementary and high school friends, college classmates, sorority sisters and friends from her working career and church family, many of whom she lunched with just weeks before her death. Most anyone would say Brenda was sweet, funny, and incredibly thoughtful. If you were Brenda’s friend, you could count on receiving punctual and humorous birthday greetings, with an insightful remembrance she had mentally noted months before was “just what you needed”. Wherever Brenda went in life, her winsome charm, wit, and mischievous twinkle would ignite smiles and good will with men and women alike. A few weeks before she and Steve started dating in 1979, Brenda custom ordered an aqua blue Volkswagen Beetle convertible. In fact, Steve first kissed Brenda on the cheek and started their romance while Brenda was sitting in her VW. Brenda loved to drive around town and honk the horn (playing La Cucaracha) enjoying waves and admiration from people who treated her like the celebrity she was. Brenda kept that treasured car for 42 years. Brenda and her husband Steve were married one month short of their 42nd anniversary. Steve would tell you he loved Brenda more and more as the years rolled by. Steve simply adored her for the magnificent person that was Brenda Marshall. Steve proposed to Brenda in a hot air balloon, and they married in 1980. Their partnership not only endured but blossomed over the years, inspiring countless friends, and younger couples with their devotion to each other. Every Saturday for nearly 15 years, Steve wrote a song dedication to Brenda on Facebook professing his love. Their “song” Billy Joel’s “I Love You Just the Way You Are" fit their story perfectly. Brenda and Steve’s favorite date was dinner and a rock concert, frequently an act from the 60’s or 70’s. They saw all their favorites like Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and many more. ALS did not defeat Brenda. Learning of her diagnosis in December 2020, Brenda faced the unimaginable with courage and calm. Brenda managed her ALS diagnosis with incredible resolve; choosing to ignore her body’s failing and instead chose to enjoy people, shopping, church and casual nights with family and friends. She was loving and grateful to all. Brenda especially appreciated her daughter, Marina, and future daughter- in- law, Desiree Monahan, who tenderly helped her during these difficult months of decline. Brenda continued to lead a life of smiles, dignity, a strong faith in Jesus Christ and truly enjoyed every day as a gift. Brenda is preceded in death by her parents whom she loved dearly. She is survived by Steve (husband), Britt (son), Marina (daughter), Celeste Whisenant (sister), Rick Whisenant (brother-in-law), and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. A funeral Mass is scheduled Friday, March 11th, 2022, for Brenda at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789. Visitation will be in the church sanctuary at 10:00 am. The service will be at 11:00 am with a reception to celebrate her life afterwards. Final internment will follow a private ceremony at Queen of Angels Cemetery, Winter Park, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest a donation in Brenda’s memory be made to either: 1) ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619 2) Team Gleason Foundation, P.O. Box 24493, New Orleans, LA 70184 3) St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Haiti fund, 526 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789. The family would like to recognize and thank the DeGusipe Funeral Home and Todd DeGusipe for their professional service and attention during this difficult time. The family of Brenda Hinojosa Marshall invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in her loving memory.

Brenda Hinojosa Marshall

January 17, 1955 - January 9, 2022