Brittany Maynard advocate for death with dignity dies

(CNN) Brittany Maynard the 29 year old who said she had terminal brain cancer took medication to end her life under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act advocacy group Compassion Choices said Sunday.

Brittany chose to make a well thought out and informed choice to Die With Dignity in the face of such a terrible painful and incurable illness a post on her website said. She moved to Oregon to pass away in a little yellow house she picked out in the beautiful city of Portland.

In a statement Compassion Choices an end of life choice advocacy group that has been working closely with Maynard said she died as she intended peacefully in her bedroom in the arms of her loved ones.

Brittany Maynard with her dog Charley in San Francisco. Maynard a 29 year old with terminal brain cancer has died advocacy group Compassion and Choices said in a Facebook post on Sunday. Click through to see more photos of Maynard's life. Brittany Maynard second from right visits the Grand Canyon with her family in October. Maynard 29 was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family she wrote in an op ed for CNN. Maynard had said the Grand Canyon was the last item on her bucket list. Maynard at age 4 with her mom Debbie. Maynard with her mom during a trip. Maynard right poses for a photo during her travels. Maynard and her husband Dan Diaz on their wedding day. They had been married a little more than a year when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Maynard shares a moment with her bridesmaids on her wedding day. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brittany Maynard's journey

Maynard passed away Saturday said the group which released an official obituary.

The epitaph contained a final message from Maynard who expressed a note of deep thanks to all of her supporters whom she sought out like water during her life and illness.

It is people who pause to appreciate life and give thanks who are happiest. If we change our thoughts we change our world Love and peace to you all she said.

Maynard graduated from University of California Berkeley and earned a Masters in Education from University of California Irvine according to the obituary. She was a world traveler who volunteered at a local animal rescue organization before her diagnosis and lived 29 years of generosity compassion education travel and humor it said.

Maynard is survived by her husband and his family her mother and stepfather.

While she had longed for children of her own she left this world with zero regrets on time spent places been or people she loved in her 29 years the obituary said.

Maynard's story spread rapidly on social media as a video explaining her choice garnered more than 9 million views on YouTube.

She became a prominent spokeswoman for the death with dignity movement which advocates that terminally ill patients be allowed to receive medication that will let them die on their own terms. She also became a lightning rod for criticism from people who oppose that approach.

I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family Maynard wrote in an opinion column for CNN explaining her choice. We had to uproot from California to Oregon because Oregon is one of only five states where death with dignity is authorized.

Maynard I hope my family is proud of me Explaining 'Death with Dignity' law Brittany Maynard I don't want to die

In a video released last week Maynard said she hadn't yet decided when she would end her life.

I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn't seem like the right time right now. But it will come because I feel myself getting sicker. It's happening each week Maynard said in the video which was produced by Compassion Choices and released to CNN last Wednesday.

Maynard said she had stage IV glioblastoma multiforme an aggressive form of terminal brain cancer.

When she first started speaking out about her decision Maynard said that in early November she planned to take the medication she'd been prescribed. In her latest video she said she was waiting to see how her symptoms progress before deciding on a date.

But taking too long to make that choice was one of her greatest fears Maynard said.

The worst thing that could happen to me is that I wait too long because I'm trying to seize each day she says but I somehow have my autonomy taken away from me by my disease because of the nature of my cancer.

CNN's Brandon Griggs and Ralph Ellis contributed to this report.

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