Sandra "Sandy" Sue Vinardi, 64, of Olathe, KS formerly of rural Arma, went to her Heavenly home at 11:37 p.m., Friday, February 9, 2024, at the Olathe Hospice House.
Sandy was born March 25, 1959 in Girard, a daughter of Harry L. and Betty L. (McVey) Brunk.
She graduated from Northeast High School in 1977. In 1978, she completed cosmetology school at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, KS. Sandy worked as a licensed cosmetologist and gave her grandbabies their first haircuts. A teacher by nature, she taught at Covenant Academy in Pittsburg from 1994 to 2019, leaving a long-lasting impact on each of her students. She also loved spending her Saturdays serving the Arma and Girard communities and making friends with everyone who came in the door at Peppermill Café.
She was a member of Westside Family Church in Lenexa, KS.
She valued people and relationships, in turn nurturing them with an elaborate home-cooked meal and baked goods. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, and listening to audiobooks.
Survivors include daughters, Amy Vinardi, Amber Brooks and her husband Joseph, and their children Aiden, Matthew, Aubrianna, and Zion of Olathe; her sons Brad Vinardi and his wife Jessica, and their children Jackson and Katterina of rural Arma and Kyle Vinardi and his wife Bitty, and their children Eli and Hudson of rural Arma; her brother Randy Brunk and his wife Kimbra of rural Arma; her Aunt Lois and Ralph Fairman of Wichita and Uncle Jim and Gyla McVey of Fredonia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sandy was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Pamela Hockett.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 16, 2024, at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with Sandy's son-in-law, Joseph Brooks, officiating. Burial will be at the Girard Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home where friends may call after 2:00 p.m., Thursday. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Vie Medical Clinic, and The Bible Project. Memorials may be left at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home 518 W St. John St., Box 258, Girard, KS 66743.
