Sonja Margaret Donahue

Sonja Margaret Donahue was born in 1929 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to parents Edgar and Takouhi. Her early life was spent with her younger brother John in Vienna, Austria, Venice, Italy, and Peking, China. Sonja emigrated to the United States in 1947. While studying at Loyola University in Chicago, she met Gilbert Donahue, and they were married in 1949. The couple raised three children, with the young family living in Urbana, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio, before moving in 1964 to Arlington, Virginia. Sonja’s interest in early childhood education led to work as a Montessori teacher and an active role in the American Montessori Society. She later earned a Bachelor’s in Individualized Study degree from George Mason University. Sonja and Gil’s later life would be immensely brightened by their participation in the Nova Catholic Community, from which came many lifelong friends. The two of them also derived much joy from their summers spent at the family’s old farmhouse in Vermont, and by the arrival of their grandson, Michael Saucedo. Sonja was left partially paralyzed by a stroke in 2002, and spent the last eleven years of her life at the Goodwin House retirement community in Alexandria, Virginia, visited faithfully by her three children and devoted friends from Nova. Sonja’s brother John passed away in 1994 and her beloved husband Gilbert was taken from her in 2006. Sonja departed this world on November 15, 2013. She is survived by her brother Martin, her three children Victoria Robinson, Moira Saucedo, and Christopher Donahue, her sons-in-law Eric Robinson and Tomas Saucedo, and her grandson Michael Saucedo. Sonja’s family and friends miss her dearly, but her wonderful spirit lives on in us.

A liturgy of celebration to be held Saturday, November 23rd, at 3:00 p.m., at Goodwin House/Bailey’s Crossroads, 3440 S. Jefferson St. Falls Church, VA, Lower Level Auditorium. A reception to follow at Goodwin House.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the NOVA Catholic Community, c/o Joseph Formoso, Treasurer, NOVA Community, 10000 Winnepeg Court, Burke, VA 22015.