Brenda Ann Felldin-Rossetti

Felldin-Rossetti, Brenda Ann,
59, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 20th surrounded by her family. For more than 17 years, Brenda fought a tireless battle with breast cancer. Brenda was the first of two daughters of Betty & Roy Felldin. She is survived by them, her sister Lorie Minshull and her nephew Cameron. She was born and raised in Akron, Ohio where she attended Firestone High and Kent State. She later transferred to Arizona State and graduated with a degree in Mass Communication. She began her career in media working at KBBC Radio and later used her entrepreneurial skills to establish her own advertising and public relations firm. The firm handled many local and several national clients. She claimed that it was the smallest national agency in the world. While running her own firm, she returned to college and obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

It was in advertising that she met and married the love of her life, Anthony "Tony" Rossetti. She loved to plan parties and travel adventures for them and their friends. She used her media skills as a volunteer for the Phoenix Art Museum's Contemporary Forum and helped promote their various fund raising functions. She served on the communications committee for the March of Dimes and had been an active member of the Phoenix Advertising Club.

But her real efforts were placed in supporting the refugees from war torn Sudan that were recently immigrated to Arizona; they became known as the Lost Boys & Girls of Sudan. Brenda served as a volunteer and for several years was President on the Board of Directors. She helped increase the programs offered and the number of refugees receiving benefits by increasing donations and other funding sources. She obtained press coverage locally and internationally for the organization, including articles in the New York Times. When she could no longer serve actively, she continued to be a strong mentor for dozens of these men and women as they established lives and families and became American citizens. She had that rare combination of endless encouragement tempered by wise counsel. She worked hard to assist many in their dream to go back to Sudan to help their families and support their struggling country. She was wonderfully kind with a twinkle in her eye and a light but ever present sense of humor. She was an avid reader with an enormous interest in the well-being of others. No words adequately express how much we will miss her voice and smile, yet no amount of time will steal them from us. A celebration of Brenda's life will be held on Saturday, November 10th, 11:30 am, at the Franciscian Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to the Lost Boys Center for Leadership Development or the American Cancer Society.