Sandra Kay Kurtz Hritz
Brownsville
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sandra Kay Kurtz Hritz, 81, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on May 28, 1945, in Brownsville, Sandy was a beloved daughter of Edgar John Kurtz and Callie Mae Gosney Kurtz.
On January 25, 1964, she married the love of her life, John Wayne Hritz, with whom she shared 45 devoted years of marriage until his passing on August 21, 2009. Sandy was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to her family touched the lives of everyone who knew her.
Sandy dedicated her married life to caring for her husband, who lived with a disability, while lovingly raising their two children and later helping to nurture and support her two grandsons. Her family was the center of her world, and she found her greatest joy in celebrating life’s everyday moments with those she loved.
A woman of deep faith, Sandy was a lifelong member of Calvin United Presbyterian Church and most recently attended Fort Burd Presbyterian Church, both in Brownsville. She was a proud 1963 graduate of Brashear High School. Throughout her life, Sandy was dedicated to serving others through volunteerism. She was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Auxiliary and generously volunteered at her grandsons’ schools and Boy Scout activities, as well as at Center in the Woods in California, Pennsylvania.
Sandy embraced life with enthusiasm and a wonderful sense of fun. She was a devoted and rabid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and proudly cheered for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, the University High School Hawks, and every team on which her grandsons played. She rarely missed a school program, sporting event, or Boy Scout activity involving her grandsons, taking immense pride in supporting them every step of the way.
She also enjoyed crocheting, traveling, playing cards and board games, and trying her luck at the casino. She will be remembered for her generous heart, infectious spirit, steadfast faith, remarkable strength, and the countless cherished memories she created with family and friends.
Sandy is survived by her daughter, Chelle J. Adams and her husband, Ray, of Point Marion; her son, John R. Hritz of Morgantown, West Virginia; her grandsons, Noah T. Adams of Point Marion and A.J. Adams of Elkridge, Maryland; her two beloved granddogs, one grand-kitty, and four great-grandkitties, all of whom brought her great joy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John Wayne Hritz; her sister, Myra Jean Kurtz Starr, and her husband, Thomas R. Starr, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; and her brother, Calvin Armbruster of Palm Beach, Fla.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Sandy’s life during visitation on Sunday, July 5, 2026 from 2 to 7 p.m. when a prayer service will be held with the Rev. Sandra McCain officiating at the Skirpan Funeral Home, 135 Park St., Brownsville, PA. A private funeral service and committal will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made in Sandy’s memory to Give Purrs A Chance of Berkeley Springs, WV, at http://givepurrsachance.org
Although our hearts are heavy with grief, we find comfort in knowing that Sandy’s legacy of love, compassion, faith, and strength will live on in the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in our hearts. www.skirpanfuneralhome.com