A former director of the Red Deer Museum has passed away after a battle with cancer.

Wendy Martindale passed away Wednesday morning at the Saint John Regional Hospital after a two-year fight with breast cancer. She was 57.

Martindale leaves to mourn her partner of 30 years Harvey J. Smith and his son Matthew, her sisters Joyce Martindale and Diane Lansdell, and numerous friends and colleagues across Canada.

Martindale served as executive director of the Red Deer Museum, Normandeau Cultural and Natural History Society and Kerry Wood Nature Centre.

After her degree from the University of Waterloo, she began working with the Conservation Authorities in Ontario. She moved to Alberta in 1980. After moving to Red Deer in 1987, she first worked as tourism coordinator for the City of Red Deer.

Martindale later took over the post of museum director. She held the position for 10 years.

In 2004, she moved to New Brunswick to take the job of director of community programs for the Museum of New Brunswick.

Martindale did not want a funeral, but a celebration of her life will be held at the New Brunswick Museum on July 12.

Donations in her name can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Stephen Lewis or any community-based arts support group.