Obituary of Paula Jo Scumaci Burton

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Paula Jo Scumaci Burton, 58, passed away peacefully with family at her side at her home in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Paula was born in Morgantown on November 5, 1960, to Marguerite Antonelli Scumaci and Ralph Paul Scumaci SR. Paula and her 5 siblings grew up in Morgantown, and she attended Morgantown High School and graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in biology and a master's degree in therapeutic recreation. Paula truly adored her twenty nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Paula had an amazing spirit with endless love for her family and friends. She was always there to care for those in need, no matter what it took. Paula loved to dance and music and was well known for her lavish picnics and bonfire parties she hosted at her family property on the Mileground in Morgantown. Paula loved great food, and her friends and family loved it even more when Paula would prepare one of her signature gourmet dishes. Her strong spirit and strength were always in evident, and she always stood up for what she believed, never backing down.

In 1993 she met her future husband Darren Burton, who had recently lost his eyesight. She was what Darren calls "an angel sent from heaven," supporting him as he learned how to adapt to his new situation and continue his education to build a career. They married in 2001 and enjoyed a wonderful life together. After college, Paula worked 5 years as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, and then went back to school to study massage therapy and had a thriving massage therapy business in Morgantown from 1995 to 2001. She then moved to Huntington West Virginia with her husband and traveled with him around the country for his work with the American Foundation for the Blind. They moved to San Jose California in 2014 until Darren retired from Yahoo in 2018 when they moved to their house to retire near the beach in Pawley's Island South Carolina.

Paula was a huge fan and supporter of WVU sports, especially football and men's and women's basketball. She loved to travel to beaches around the world, especially to the Caribbean and Hawaiian islands. Her favorite activities were swimming and walking her dog Smokey.

Paula is survived by her husband, Darren; her sisters: Maria Scumaci Spencer of Deep Creek, MD, Carla Scumaci and spouse, Beth Dean of Pawleys Island, SC, and Sheila Scumaci of Nashville, TN, and her brothers, Sam Scumaci of Gaithersburg, MD and Ralph Scumaci and spouse, Kelly Myers Scumaci of Morgantown. She is also survived by her twenty nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown from 2 p.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 3:30 p.m.

Donations may be made in Paula's memory to Pet Helpers, www.PetHelpersInc.com

Send online condolences at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com