Heather Warrick | Photo by Stephen K. Peeples

Heather Warrick, a longtime advocate for cancer-related nonprofits in the Santa Clarita Valley, succumbed to cancer Friday. She was 43.

“Cancer did not define Heather, she lived life to the absolute fullest,” said Candy Spahr, a former SCV Woman of the Year who knew Heather well and worked with her on fundraisers for the American Cancer Society.

“She was always surrounded by loved ones. She was an angel that came down to earth,” she said.

An outpouring of kind words about Warrick spread quickly throughout Facebook, Twitter and social media sites, following the news of her passing Friday morning.

The Relay For Life of the Santa Clarita Valley’s Facebook page posted the following message:

“Today heaven gained a new angel as our Relay family lost a truly wonderful friend: Heather Warrick. Heather touched so many lives in so many ways. She inspired thousands to take up the cause to find a cure to cancer. She was never afraid to share her cancer experience. She always had a smile for those she came in contact with and she never, ever gave up hope.”

Photo by Gary Choppe

She is survived by her husband, Chad, mother, father, twin sister, a brother, three nieces and two nephews, and two pugs that she considered “her boys,” Spahr said.

“She was so inspirational, she was so strong, but she had this quiet strength. She just went through her life,” said Janice Murray, a friend of Warrick and host of the KHTS’ “Non-Profit Spotlight Show.”

“She just went through her day and if you saw her on the street you wouldn’t know that she was going through all that she was going through,” Murray said.

“It’s a tragedy to have lost such a treasure to our community,” said Jeri Seratti-Goldman, co-owner of KHTS AM-1220. “We are truly saddened by her passing, and our condolences go out to her incredible family who stood by her side while she fought her battle with cancer for many years.”