Obituary of Shandiin Bernal Sanchez

Shandiin Bernal Sanchez, age 20, of Charlotte, NC passed away Sunday, October 27, 2019.  She was born on February 20, 1999 in Gallup, New Mexico to Janus Kamil Taiman. 

She spent the first 3 years of her life on the Navajo Indian reservation where she was surrounded by beautiful red mesas, horses, sheep herders and the sounds of the peyote ceremony being performed nearby.  She moved to Charlotte, NC where her mother was born and raised when she was 3 years old.  At the age of 4, she entered into a Montessori education program and remained until age 11.  She often referred to the Montessori years as some of the best educational years of her life.

Shandiin worked many jobs before becoming self employed and was an independent, strong woman who was very dedicated and determined to be successful in business.  She was the type of person that always had someone under her wing to give them shelter.  Her name in Navajo means “sunlight”, specifically the light just at the horizon before the Sun comes up in the morning. 

Shandiin is survived by her mother, Kamil Flores-almendares, brother Sheehan Bernal Sanchez, grandparents Ronald and Gabrielle Hardman, aunts Jenny Hardman, Joanna Fadel, Susan Barkley, Robin Hardman, uncle Ronnie Hardman, cousins Sydney Thompson Brendle, Caleb Fadel, Madeline McManus, Brennan Gillespie, Stellen Barkley and her closest and dearest friend in life Delia Freeman.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday, October 31, 2019 at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC  28203. A Funeral Service will be held at 4:00 pm Friday, November 1, 2019 in the Chapel of Hankins & Whittington.