Service:
Sonja has been cremated and will at last return to
her family in Belgium. A Celebration of Life will
be held at the Newbury Legion at a later date.
Sonja Soentjens was born on June 23, 1954, in Beerse, Belgium, as the eldest of seven children of the late Roza and Jozef Soentjens. She grew up in Tielen Belgium, and later moved to Herentals with her beloved husband, André, whom she affectionately called her “poezeke.” They shared 36 years of marriage until André sadly passed away in 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Together, Sonja and André built a loving family and were blessed with three children: Tom, Bart, and Ann. The loss of Bart and Ann far too early in life was an unimaginable hardship, yet Sonja showed extraordinary resilience. Despite the pain, she always found reasons to keep going and to continue embracing life with strength and determination.
Sonja was a proud and devoted grandmother to Laura, Jens, Wouter, and Kyara. She also held a special place in her heart for her godchild Coralie and her children—Léo, Noa, and Mila—whom she loved as her own grandchildren.
In 2006, Sonja and André traveled to Canada to visit family and quickly fell in love with the country. They made the life-changing decision to move to Cedar Springs in 2007, where they were welcomed by wonderful neighbors and friends, including Heather Cook and her family. Ten years later, Sonja moved to Newbury, where she continued to build meaningful connections.
In 2021, Sonja was diagnosed with lung cancer. True to her nature, she faced the illness with unwavering courage and determination—and she won that battle. Her strength inspired everyone around her, and her family was immensely proud of her. In the summer of 2025, she returned to Belgium for the first time in many years, cherishing precious moments with family and friends. It was a time filled with joy and happiness. Sadly, upon her return to Canada, it was discovered that the cancer had returned and had spread. Once again, Sonja fought with everything she had. Her bravery and fighting spirit were nothing short of remarkable, but this time, it was not meant to be.
On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, surrounded by love and gentleness, Sonja found the peace she so deeply deserved.
Though distance separated her from family and friends in Belgium, Sonja made sure that connection was never lost. Through almost daily messages—often a heartfelt mix of English and Dutch—she kept everyone close. Those conversations, sometimes needing a bit of decoding, brought comfort and joy to all.
Sonja faced many hardships throughout her life, yet she remained a woman with an incredibly warm and generous heart, always ready to help others. Her determination was inspiring, and her ability to find joy in life’s simple pleasures—good food, a drink, and laughter shared with loved ones—will be fondly remembered. Her dry sense of humor brought smiles to many.
We take comfort in the hope that she is now reunited with her beloved “poezeke,” and with Bart and Ann, watching over us together.
She ended every conversation with “love you to the moon and back” or “love you more.” Now it is our turn to say: we will never forget you. We love you to the moon and back—and more.
Sonja has been cremated and will at last return to her family in Belgium. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Newbury Legion at a later date.
