The mind swirls with thoughts, the desire to be with the great company of Sonia’s network, the desire to record innumerable experiences of being touched by God’s tremendous Grace and Sonia’s spiritual presence in the past year. How silly. For whom is this important? Only for me, when my spiritual eyes are tightly closed and I give myself over to a petty anxiety to catalog and chronicle expressions of our spiritual reality with words that cheapen and fracture God’s gifts of unexpected and undeserved Grace.

We were blessed that my husband was able to make the pilgrimmage to Boston for her funeral, our family rep. I told myself that surely I would make it to St. George for her 40 day memorial, or at least her 1 year memorial. How silly, really. I am home with three magnificent, congested kids, my priestly husband, and a parish at the threshold of Great Lent. Shall I pity myself that I cannot stand in her church and kiss her grave? If so, then I make even Sonia’s death about me.

And this is the antithesis of everything said in the sentiments above about a woman who was so invested in life outside of herself and her own interests. Sonia’s personal interests were God’s interests. She wanted her crown. She was in the race for good, as in PERMANENTLY and also FOR the common GOOD. Where her treasure was, there her whole heart was, and Sonia’s treasure was everything she had to give: personal resources of strength from the heart, mind, and soul. Sonia loved her neighbor as herself.

Sonia’s company is literally among us because the Kingdom is among us. It is. Tomorrow we will celebrate the first Saturday of Souls Divine Liturgy of this holy season. We are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses, and Sonia is in. She made it. My girl is on the list of saints. Well done, good and faithful servant. Intercede fervently for us.

Love,
Kristina

I was looking fir images of Icons (John The Baptist) for a small video set to the Boston Byzantine Choir – “Blessed Is The Man”. I came across this blog – ORA ET LABORA http://ishmaelite.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html and saw the photo of Sonia and her husband and baby son – i burst into tears and I dont even know you. Even strangers from across the sea are affected.

God Bless,

Brendon
Perth, Western Australia

A day hasn’t passed that I haven’t thought of my dear friend, Sonia. I, like so many of you, miss her terribly. I wanted to share some of my favorite memories of Sonia, what makes me smile when I think of her. It has taken me awhile to get to this point because there are days that still can’t believe she is not physically here with us.

I can still recall the first time I met Sonia, actually it was her voice that I heard first! In 1999, Sonia was in Denver for a wedding and she called my husband up (who she had met a few years earlier at a church camp). Funny, I remember the phone call like it was yesterday…we were in our kitchen, the sun was shining and the phone rings and I answer it and it’s SONIA! I spoke to her on the phone and from that moment I knew I wanted to meet this gal and be her friend. She was full of happiness and LIFE!

We saw Sonia again several months later, this time in Minnesota for Fr. George and Christa Dokos’ wedding. One of the funniest memories I have with Sonia is her remark upon exiting the hotel’s elevator as we were entering the wedding reception. The hotel was not only hosting the wedding reception we were attending, but the Little People of America’s Convention. So Sonia, very innocently, remarks a bit too loudly as were exiting the elevator…”Look at all those midgets!”…we quietly told her the PC term was little people! She just laughed her contagious Sonia laugh!

At this point, my husband and I knew we were going to the seminary in the fall of 2000. So visiting with Sonia during this wedding weekend was comforting. My personal worries were lessened once I met Sonia. I actually was excited to move to Boston and get to spend more time with my new friend.

Once in Boston, Sonia was like a sister to me and my husband. She was at our place almost every other evening for dinner, to say “hi”, to take us out for dessert, just to hang out. She loved our oversized couch and would just nestle into it and make herself at home. I’ll never forget our late night outings for crepes at Marche (it’s not there anymore); eating at the Cheesecake factory, going to movies, her taking me to her favorite falafel places, shopping at H&M, ice cream at JP Licks, and her pretty much being our personal driver in Boston. Sonia made living in Boston for those 2 years so memorable and enjoyable.

Although I met Sonia only 8 years ago, it feels like I have known her all my life. She was at almost all our major family events (besides our wedding—because we didn’t know her then!). Sonia was there in Boston for the birth of our first daughter, Alexia. She actually gave us Alexia’s first bed….her bassinet. I was nearing my due date and still did not have a place for our baby to sleep. I remember mentioning that to Sonia. The next day, Sonia knocks on my door with a bassinet for the baby. I remember her saying, “Now, you don’t have to worry about where your baby will sleep. The baby has a bed.” I just remember crying and hugging her….Sonia was the definition of thoughtful.

When I left Boston, Sonia was the one who took me to the airport to see me off. She wanted to walk me in, help me to the check out counter. So she told the airport officer she was helping me, the new mom, to the counter and not to tow her car. Here we are saying our goodbyes and I get to my gate. My phone rings and wouldn’t you know that Sonia’s car did end up getting towed. She had told the police officer a little more than what she thought, but by the time she called me to tell me, she was laughing her contagious Sonia laugh and telling me…you won’t believe just what happened to me…

Sonia visited us in Denver several times (she always had this great way of mixing business with pleasure)… she came out for Alexia’s baptism, for my husband’s ordination to the diaconate, for the birth of our second daughter Eleni, for her baptism, and sometimes just because. We also had the pleasure of visiting Sonia a few years back while she was dating Nick. We were in Boston for a wedding and again Sonia offered herself to us….she watched Eleni for us while we went to the wedding and she even gave us her car to drive so we wouldn’t have to rent a car!

It had been 2 years since we had actually seen Sonia in person and we were blessed to have an occasion to get together…my sister-in-laws wedding (2/16/08). Sonia and Nick flew into Denver and drove up to Fort Collins to have dinner with us. I learned that Sonia loved puzzles. We had been working on one and she wouldn’t leave until it was finished! She met our 3rd daughter, Maria and was able to spend time being “Thea Sonia” to our girls. She showed us a video of baby Andrew and we all knew how much she loved her little baby—she was so proud that he weighed 20 pounds at 4months!!!

Sonia will always be missed. The only way I can keep her alive is in her memory and trying to be more like her…to go out of my way to help people, to make a point of calling my friends on a regular basis like she did, to always think of others before myself, and to live out my Orthodox faith on a daily basis.

I miss you Sonia. I miss not being able to call you and hear your voice. I miss not having my phone ring and it being you, saying “Hey Stace”….

Thank you for a beautiful friendship for giving so much of yourself to me and my family.

+Stacy Armatas
Fort Collins, Colorado

Sonia was responsible for much of my happiness the 9 months I lived in Boston (2002-2003). I moved out to HCHC never seeing Boston before. As I stepped out of the taxi in front of Polemonakos Hall, wondering how I would ever get started in a new place, Sonia was waiting for me. She was the first person to greet me. With a warm hug and a beautiful smile she showed me to my dorm room. That first weekend in Boston, she took me with her to “the boys’” house to be with friends. After learning what my interests in school were, she jumped on the opportunity to offer me a position as the teacher’s assistant at Theophany School. I did not have a way to get to Theophany School in Needham, but of course Sonia had the answer! She let me borrow her blue toyota – as long as I had it back when she was done in the Office. And on weekends that she traveled, I had the special treat of touring Boston with her car.

Theophany School was the best experience for me that year. Through Sonia’s passion for her “baby”, the school and the children, I yearned to spread her vision further within the Orthodox community. I ask her to be my mentor, to help me fulfill my dream in spreading the love of Christ and the true charity of Orthodoxy. I too, share her vision of an Orthodox school for children.

I see her smile and hear her laugh in my head, and it inspires me to do as Sonia did. Thank you. Thank you for befriending me. Thank you for leading me. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for guiding me. Thank you for sharing your life and your love with me. Your vigor for life was unstoppable.

Deacon Nick, I remember hearing your beautiful chanting at the Antiochian Village; and I saw you at St. Vladimir’s in the fall of 2002. I saw Sonia’s home across from the park when she was tearing up the floor. Jesse shared some wedding pictures with me. I never knew you two had a child until reading these memories, but it seems the Lord is walking alongside both of you, blessing the fruit of your marriage, blessing your works and the lives you have touched.

May God Bless you and all of your families.
May Sonia’s memory be eternal.

Sarah Nimmer
Milwaukee, WI

Douglas & Orita Hamatie,
Florida

Family,

Please be encouraged.

1 Thess. 4:13-18

4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

In CHRIST there is HOPE!

Blessings,

Melissa Lee

I met Sonia in Autumn of 2004. I was new to New England and I was just starting to get to know people in the area. Sonia was having her annual Antiochian dinner at her lovely home (she has amazing taste with home decor!) and she invited me to ride along with her and to help get things started. I was so blown away by her kindness and how easy she was to talk to. At any rate, we got to talking and I spoke to her about my wedding plans and she brought me to her room where she pulled out this ENORMOUS wicker basket filled to the brim with wedding invitations and programs. She then went to her closet and opened the sliding doors to reveal a literal rainbow of bridesmaids dresses. Good golly! She encouraged me to look through the wicker basket and to get ideas for my wedding. “Wow!” I thought, “She must know a lot of people! This is a special lady!” And what a remarkable young lady she was.

On January 15, 2006, my husband and I got to share in her special day as guests. Sonia was a beautiful bride. Absolutely radiant. The wedding was fun and filled with little Sonia touches. Above all, the wedding reflected Nick and Sonia’s love for Christ and His Church. I have to admit, I did tear up a little during the ceremony. It was so touching.

In November of 2006, my husband and I had to leave Boston. We weren’t sure what was going to happen with my husband’s job and there was a lot of anxiety on our end. Sonia threw us a going away party at her home. How sweet is that?! She invited all our friends and had excellent food ready to go. I will never forget that act of kindness. It meant the world to me, especially at that time.

I’ll never forget Sonia’s kindness, humor, spunk, laughter (loved the laugh!), beauty, and piety. I have looked up to Sonia ever since I met her and will continue to be inspired by her life for as long as I am here.

Sonia, I miss you more than words can describe. Though we have only known each other just a few years, you have made such a profound impact on my life. I love you very much.

Deacon Nick, as you and Sonia so warmly opened your home to us, please know that you and your beautiful baby boy are always welcome in ours. We love you very much and will continue to pray for you both.

Andrew, you’re a little guy now but one day you’ll read this. As you can easily see, your mom touched so many lives and was a truly amazing person on earth. Ooooo, just imagine what she is doing in Heaven for us!

May Sonia’s memory be forever eternal!

Love,
Zohreh Daly

The most vivid memory I have of Sonia is of her carrying me piggyback through the pool at camp (when I was still small), explaining to me how to make a prayer rope. Now, even as then, I wish I could be like her.

Living close by and having worked at Theophany gave me the blessing of bumping into Sonia frequently, and she always put peace in my heart and a smile on my face. While it grieves me to know that we will not meet again on this Earth, it brings joy to me to carry her memory in my heart.

Sonia–you have accomplished so much in this life, have been such an exemplar of the faith, and your legacy will live on forever. Your dedication and faith marks not only the hearts of those who have met you, but also the life of every child (and their families) that pray their way through Theophany School.

Thank you for spending your time with us. I know you are watching down on all of us, and smiling.

Dn. Nick and Andrew, I know you will do much to keep Sonia alive and with us every day, and for that I am grateful.

Memory eternal.

Love,
Emily