Laguna Beach, CA - Myrna Kay Heitel (née Fiene) passed away from breast cancer early on the morning of June 2nd with her child Jesse at her side. She had initially been diagnosed 20 years prior, fought it successfully, and was in remission until a recurrence a couple of years ago when she was living with her daughter Alyssa in Hawaii.

She grew up in Los Angeles where she was homecoming queen and attended college at USC where she played violin in the orchestra. She majored in music and supported herself financially throughout the whole process. Her dream was to be a teacher, so she started working at Thurston Middle School as a music and arts teacher and obtained her master's degree at USF while working.

She will long be remembered in Laguna Beach for her contributions to the music program at Top of the World School. She directed the production of several long-play vinyl records of her students singing songs including 'Top of the World' by The Carpenters. Her friends often said she had more lives than a cat. She retired in 2006 after struggling with a long-term illness. She then successfully overcame several critical medical obstacles including rehabbing from a traumatic brain injury and undergoing multiple organ transplants.

She is survived by her husband, Bob, two children, Jesse and Alyssa, and two grandkids, Ileia and Dylan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please send a donation to organizations benefiting music, children, the arts, or animals.