Brenda Nell (Smitt) DeChance

Brenda Nell Dechance, 68, of Nipomo CA, passed away suddenly on April 20th, 2026, six days short of her 69th birthday.

Brenda was born on April 26th,1957 in San Diego, California and was raised by J.C. and Helen Smitt in Chireno, TX. After graduating from Chireno High School in 1975, she attended college at Kilgore College in (1976)

Brenda married Robert Edward Ferguson in 1981and had one son, Randy Ryan Ferguson.

Brenda worked as a Dialysis technician and loved her job and the people she served. She worked there for three years until she had open-heart surgery in [1988] After this traumatic event, she recovered and was a housewife and caregiver of her own parents until both of their passings.

In 2010, she met her second love, Roger Jospeh DeChance and they wed in 2012 at Littles Chapel in Chireno, TX. The couple moved to Visalia, California and remained there until Roger’s Real Estate Carrier ended in 2023.

After retiring, they moved to Nipomo, CA to help take care of Roger’s mother and provided care for Mary until Brenda’s passing. Brenda loved cooking, movies, crime dramas, nature, gardening and especially the LORD. She took immense pride in starting all her plants from seeds and enjoyed eating all the fresh vegetables right off the vine. She loved people and the Lord.

Brenda is predeceased by her parents, J.C. and Ruth Hellen Smitt. She is survived by her husband’s Robert Edward Ferguson and Roger Joseph DeChance, her siblings, John Robert Smitt and children; Aubry Smitt, Aubin Smitt-Wood, and Shaun Smitt, her brother David Smitt and children; Keith and Erica Smitt, her son Randy Ryan Ferguson and son Michael and daughter Michelle and granddaughter Lea Neff and one great-granddaughter.

She leaves behind her best friend of 64 years, Debbie Holts who she loved dearly and called frequently.

The Funeral is on 5-08-2026 where it all started at Little’s Chapel located at County Road 434, Chireno, TX 75937 at 2:00pm.

The true measure of a successful life is measured by; “the people you touch and the hearts you heal,” and she healed many.

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