Marcia Lee Brunner, 60, a volunteer who donated her time to many community activities in Ballard and Greenwood, passed away on June 16 after a long fight with leukemia.

The day after her passing, husband Dan Brunner posted a message on http://www.hopeformarcia.com.

"It is with unbelievable sadness, mixed with too many other emotions to describe, that I must tell everyone that Marcia's long battle with leukemia has ended, and she has moved on to a kinder, gentler place," he wrote.

"At 11:15 Saturday morning, while holding my hand and with both of her parents at her bedside, Marcia quietly and gently left this harsh world and went to be with her sister in the next one (her sister died in a traffic accident almost 20 years ago)."

In Marcia's last days, her immediate family and oldest and dearest friends visited with her at the hospital. She expressed disappointment at not being able to beat her disease and not being able to see her two new grandchildren due to be born in July and August.

Marcia told her husband she had grown weary of the 11-year battle against leukemia.

"The world is a much richer place because she was here and is poorer now that she has left, although her legacy will continue to live on through her children, grandchildren and all the other people she touched in so many ways throughout her life," said Dan Brunner.

In her obituary, Brunner, was described as having "an infectious smile and a 'can do' spirit and was an amazing woman, wife and mother known for helping others throughout the community, even at great cost to herself."

When the community learned about her leukemia in the fall of 2006, people rallied behind her, holding fundraisers for her medical expenses. Supporters organized dinners, rummage sales and other fundraisers to help Brunner.

Brunner and her husband Dan depleted their savings and re-mortgaged their east Ballard home to pay for the costs of a stem cell transplant and medical treatments.

"The community came together in a big way. She was always thankful for the generosity in support of her. The words escape me, as to how much it meant to her," said son Dan Johnson.

Brunner was known for her volunteer work with the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Greenwood Senior Center, Greenwood Seafair Parade, Adams Elementary and other groups.

Marcia was tutor at Adams.

Marcia Brunner is survived by her husband Dan, four children, Dan, Kerri, Jamie, Allison and Kristine, six grandchildren and parents Ken and Georgiana Nielson.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 111 N.E. 80th St.

In lieu of flowers, Marcia requested contributions be made to her trust fund to offset the staggering medical bills or to the National Marrow Donor Program-Patient Assistance Program.

"We're still accepting donations. The expenses keep piling on," said Johnson.

Marcia's trust fund is at any Washington Mutual Bank, under "E Medeiros, FBO Marcia Brunner," or "Gifts for Marcia, c/o Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6532 Phinney Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98103.

Visit http://www.hopeformarcia.com. for more information on Marcia Brunner's life.