Senior Dies Suddenly Day Before Commencement Ceremony

Quick Facts

The passing of Anna Marie Hurst, a family and consumer sciences major from Rock Hill, S.C., will be acknowledged during the event at Winthrop Coliseum.

Anna Hurst was home with her family last night helping to trim their Christmas tree. She went to bed very happy and died during the night from an unknown cause, Winthrop officials said.

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Anna Hurst

ROCK HILL, S.C. – A Winthrop University senior who anticipated graduating in the Dec. 15 undergraduate ceremony was found dead in bed at her parents’ home on Friday.

The passing of Anna Marie Hurst, a family and consumer sciences major from Rock Hill, S.C., will be acknowledged during the event at Winthrop Coliseum. Her diploma will be given to her parents later on Saturday, along with condolences from the Winthrop community.

Hurst’s father, Chuck, worked on campus for a number of years with his former employer, ARAMARK. He then opened Anna J’s Restaurant near the Winthrop campus.

Frank Ardaiolo, Winthrop’s vice president for student life, said Anna Hurst was home with her family last night helping to trim their Christmas tree. She went to bed very happy and died during the night from an unknown cause, he said.

Winthrop officials recall a student who treasured others. “She had a special way with children,” Ardaiolo said, and worked in a Rock Hill child development center – even taking care of some of Winthrop staff’s children there. The 2009 Northwestern High graduate also was an active member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.

Her dad mentioned to Ardaiolo how much she and her family loved Winthrop and how proud she was to have finished her studies in three and a half years. Anna was very excited about her family gathering to celebrate her graduation.

“Her family is continuing to gather to celebrate her all too short life,” Ardaiolo said.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail longshawj@winthrop.edu.

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