ONEONTA – Savannah Devonne Bursese was a victim in the tragic Schoharie limo accident on Oct. 6, 2018. Born on Feb. 9, 1994, to Sam and Kim Marie Bursese, she was 24 years young at the time of her passing. Her life however, was anything but tragic.

A passionate and determined young woman, Savannah knew exactly what she wanted out of life. She attended Hartwick College in Oneonta under a sports scholarship, serving as the volleyball captain. In 2015, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business Administration, and completed the law school admissions test shortly thereafter.

Working a fulltime job throughout school, Savannah was saving up to move to Texas and begin her lifelong pursuit of a law degree. Beautiful inside and out, witty, fitness buff, animal lover, and a detest for her mother’s constant questions. We will remember her this way.

Savannah is survived by her parents, Kim and Sam; her second mother, Jeri Lynn; her three sisters, Amina, Tiesha and Amirah; her grandparents Lawrence and Patricia Heffner and Ellin Bursese; her beloved pets Adira, Odin and Preston; along with many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she will be reunited with the first love of her life, Gino, the chihuahua.

Rather than grieving, go home to your fur baby, and show them some love – it’s what Savannah would have wanted.