Sandra J. Stief

Sandra Jane (Burkhart) Stief, 80, of Reading, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at the Laurel Center. Born at Reading Hospital on July 28, 1943, the youngest of five children. She was the daughter of Isaac L. Burkhart who was the former V.P. of Forest Hills Cemetery and responsible for much of the early work in creating the cemetery. The first 4 years of her life were at 200 Neversink Road. She moved to 526 South 18 1/2 Street in Reading and attended 17th and Cotton School as well as 15th and Perkiomen School. She then moved to a 34 acre farm on Vera Cruz Road in Lancaster County at age 11.  

Sandy met her husband through his mother at Moyer's factory. They married in 1963 and then moved to State College where he finished out his senior year at Penn State University while she worked at the Kettle Restaurant. After graduation they moved to Pittsburgh. Sandy was predeceased by her daughter Katharine E. Stief and her son Donald E. Stief Jr.

Sandy became a board member of Aulenbach's Cemetery after moving to Reading. She went on to become Superintendent and Historian. Sandy was always helping the visitors in search of genealogy data. She held events at the cemetery on Memorial Day, Ghost/Lantern Tours and Civil War Tours, and supervised inmates who uprighted hundreds of tombstones. She created a power point presentation of the cemetery to share with others. Sandy was also a master gardener.

Services will be held privately at the convenience of Sandy's family. Lutz Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.LutzFuneralHome.com