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Sandra Christine Burns Hufnagel, 80, of Surfside Beach, SC was gently carried on the wings of angels to her eternal home on Thursday, March 2, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Morgantown, WV on March 20, 1942, the daughter and only child of Thomas L. Burns and Virgie Lucille Fetty Burns. “Sandy” graduated from McKeesport Area Senior High School in McKeesport, PA and attended Grace Martin School of Secretarial Arts, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as, HGTC in Conway, SC. She was a secretary for a group of attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA, and held many other positions in the different areas in which her husband, Jerry, was stationed while serving in the Air Force during their marriage. Prior to retirement, she was employed locally by the Beach Cove Resort, the Hilton Hotel for 15 years, and she worked in the golf industry for 8 years. She was a long-standing member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Garden City, SC. Sandy was gutsy. Jerry recognized early on what a tough lady she was and still talks about it to this day. As a young, married woman, at the age of 20 years old, she drove by herself from Springfield, MA to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York to have their car shipped overseas to Germany where Jerry was stationed. She then made her way to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and flew to be with him, all while pregnant with their first child, Jerry Jr. Sandy and Jerry were married for over 60 years. Their love story began on July 4, 1962, when he first took her hand to help her out of the water at a swimming party. He said, “She wasn’t getting away,” and they were engaged by October. They were married after 6 months, on December 29, 1962, having only spent 18 actual days together during that time. Their long, beautiful marriage is an inspiration to us all. Sandy is survived by her husband, Jerome John “Jerry” Hufnagel; sons, Thomas Richard “T.R.” Hufnagel (Nikki) of North Myrtle Beach, SC and James Allen Hufnagel (Rachel) of Myrtle Beach, SC; step-daughter, Geraldine Hufnagel Madrigal of Anaheim, CA; daughter-in-law, Teresa Purcell of Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren: Brittney Lynn Hufnagel, Nicholas Adam Hufnagel, Deanna Marie Hufnagel, James Allen Hufnagel II, and Isabella Renee’ Hufnagel; step-grandchildren: Holly Anne Purcell, Trenton Joseph Redmond, Ariel Bernal Smith, Isabel Nicole Smith, Thomas Dale Gainey, Rudolph Gerald “J.R.” Madrigal, Shyra Deborah Marie Madrigal, Shannon Nicole Hufnagel, and Alexander Jerome “A.J.” Madrigal; great-grandchildren: Nathan Hufnagel, Dalton Bannister, Tristan Bannister, and Josslyn Bannister; and step-great-grandchildren: Travis, Gabriel, Lucas, Dean, Connor, and Mikayla. She was predeceased by her son, Jerome John Hufnagel Jr. and daughter, Deanna Lynn Hufnagel. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 1:00 pm at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 542 Cypress Ave., Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sandy’s honor to her favorite charity, one she spent many years raising money for through radiothons: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.sjude.org. Goldfinch Funeral Home Beach Chapel in Murrells Inlet, SC is assisting the family. To view Sandy's funeral on livestream, follow this link:www.saintmichaelsc.net Click on the "StreamSpot Streaming" icon.

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Sandra Burns Hufnagel

March 20, 1942 - March 2, 2023