Brenda Vasquez

Brenda Shewi Vasquez was born on July 24, 1994 in Los Angeles California to Fernando Vasquez and Karen Williams. She is an enrolled tribal member of Susanville Indian Rancheria of Mountain Maidu, Apache and Mexican heritage. She is survived by her parents and brother Preston. Her grandparents are Manuel and Lupe Vasquez of Oceano California, Rudy Garcia (deceased) and Amelia Chavez of San Jose California. Beloved paternal niece of Laura and Manuel Vasquez from Oceano California, as well as maternal niece of Yvonne, Rudy and Paul Garcia, and Eddie Hernandez from San Jose California.

Brenda was 28 years old when she ‘Walked into the Forest’ on January 18, 2023. A service will be held at Willow Glen Memorial at 11am on January 26th, with a 1PM burial ceremony at Oak Hill in San Jose California. A reception will follow at the American Legion-Willow Glen at 1504 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose CA at 3-7PM.

She moved often as a child due to her mother attending college in various locations. Brenda was born in a Los Angeles California emergency room. She spent many instances at the UCLA campus with her mother and friends who treated her like family (e.g. holding her, braiding her hair and even babysitting her). She enjoyed attending the annual UCLA Pow Wow where she was known to dance naturally in the circle often.

She moved with her parents to Berkeley, and subsequently San Jose, then Roseville California. Throughout this period she spent many fond memories visiting with her father’s family in Oceano California and was baptized at her grandmother’s catholic church.

Shewi also went every summer with her family to the Mountain Maidu ‘Weda’ (Bear Dance) ceremonies in Susanville and Taylorsville California where she learned to pray and connect with the natural Earth. As a child she started going to sweat lodge ceremonies since the age of 5 and was versed in blessing and smudging each new house she moved into with her parents.

As a teenager she moved to live with her family in Oceano California. During this time she enjoyed studying musical instruments including the flute, saxophone and piano. Although her academic years were shadowed by a diagnosis of Anorexia, this was overcome and she graduated to the top 11th of her Arroyo Grande High School class.

Brenda attended college at UCLA where she was a member of the American Indian Student Association. There she worked as an advisor and also tutored K-12 youth. She also worked as an undergraduate research assistant. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. It is during this time that she declared herself a Christian and became actively involved in various church organizations. She was known to take her bible with her and confidently discuss her beliefs with family and friends.

After graduation from college she moved to Oceano and then to San Jose California where she worked and volunteered in community service. Her passion was to help and bond with others in need, including the homeless and elderly. Some would perceive Brenda as humble yet others as a ‘free thinker’ who did not appreciate material things in life.

Her desire to serve others sometimes placed her in a situation where others could take advantage of her kindness. Due to her challenges with Bipolar she often misinterpreted the intentions of others. Despite this she had a network of family beyond her parents to help guide and advise her, most recently her aunt Yvonne who served as her ‘second mother’ and her grandmother Amelia who she enjoyed travelling with

and going for walks. Of all people in the World she loved most was her little brother Preston who she looked out for and desired his happiness and success.

Prior to Brenda’s passing she spoke of her vision to create a non-profit for people in need. She also had tremendous concern for orphans, elders, and loved cuddling with various family pets. Shewi will be missed dearly by her loved ones but we are reassured in knowing she is journeying to the Spirit World (Milky Way) to be with her ancestors.