Mrs. Sonia Frances Duranovich

Obituary

“Our Shining Star Sonia”

Sonia Frances Duranovich, (née Leichock) age 83, passed away suddenly, surrounded by family on September 18, 2022 near her much loved summer home on the windy shores of sparkling Georgian Bay.

Sonia was the loving and devoted wife to Donald (Donny) Duranovich, beloved mother of Melony (Adam) and Sean (Vallery) and proud Baba to Xzana, Danielle, and Violet-Jean. Sonia was predeceased by her beloved family: mother Frances, father Walter, and sister Stella.

Sonia was born and raised in North Toronto, (just north of Bathurst and Lawrence) which at the time was a rural community. Before the post war homes were built, there was farmland and Sonia and her beloved sister Stella actually spent their childhood growing up on a small farm complete with two workhorses named Charlie and Prince. As a little girl, it was Sonia’s job to bring her Father and Sister their lunch while they worked with the team of horses excavating foundations for homes. Many happy memories were made in this pastoral setting and Sonia cherished the picture of her with her sister and a billy goat. Sonia recently relayed to her daughter Melony that this photo was a very precious memory and she couldn’t find it. Melony spotted the photo at Sonia’s home while looking for pictures for the funeral slideshow, shouting out “The billy goat picture!”

Sonia attended Ledbury Park P.S., Armour Heights, Bathurst Heights Secondary School, and Shaw’s Business College. Sonia went on to hold various employment positions, her first with Robert Amell Jewelers followed by Martel Realty. She even had a job offer with L'Oreal Cosmetics. Afterwards she enjoyed working alongside her husband Donny, while she somehow managed to be homemaker extraordinaire. Together, through life’s ups and downs, Sonia and Donny worked hard to build a happy and fulfilling life together.

Sonia was a very avid tennis player participating in many competitive club tournaments, winning numerous trophies, particularly in doubles tennis with her partner Wanda Dunn. Sonia also enjoyed skiing in Collingwood with her ladies’ ski club, and introduced the sport to her husband and children. The family will always remember their ski trip to Whistler Mountain in B.C. Later in life, Sonia loved to golf with her girlfriends.

Sonia was a social butterfly, having a large circle of friends with whom she loved to keep in touch. The “Birthday Girls” dinner party group was legendary and started over four decades ago when Sonia turned 40. Overnight trips to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Falls during the Holiday Season with girlfriends were cherished by Sonia.

Sonia was a phenomenal self-taught cook and could create dishes from any tradition or culture, be it traditional Polish/Ukrainian, Sunday Dinners, anything Italian, including her famous “Sonia’s Lasagna”. Her Christmas Dinners were out of this world, both in presentation and deliciousness. Sonia took “setting a table” to a whole new level, creating centerpieces that continually managed to outdo the one from the previous year.  Sonia made every single holiday a spectacular event, as her friends and family, and even her children’s friends, can attest. Her grandchildren always delighted in Christmas at Baba and Geido’s.

Along with her husband Donny, Sonia loved to entertain and was the consummate hostess bar none at home in Toronto, the chalet in Collingwood, and cottage. Her dinner parties and celebrations were not to be outdone. Who could forget the exquisite BIG CHILL New Year’s Eve bash at the cottage, replete with a horse drawn sleigh ride on New Year’s Day. Summer weekends at the cottage with guests and family were always outstandingly scrumptious, and left everyone at least five pounds heavier than when they arrived.

And then there was the Annual Bocce Ball Summer Weekend at the cottage in Georgian Bay. Not a day, a weekend, where Sonia and Donny played host to the magnificent Sunday Brunch, complete with Mimosas, while Vic and Connie handled Saturday Night and Stella got the party started with a BBQ on Friday. That fun filled tradition lasted 20 years. As the saying goes, “The years have been kind to us; it was the weekends that did us in.”

Though the adults had plenty of fun, Sonia also catered to her children, and especially her grandchildren at the cottage. There was the swing set, the clubhouse, the games-room carpet, pinball machine, and pool table, that for a while, was repurposed for a change table when the grandkids started to arrive. Sonia renovated the walkout basement of the cottage just for her grandchildren.

Sonia ADORED her flower gardens and her numerous extra-large flower and plant containers at the cottage, many of which were from México, and people lost count at 25…they were ubiquitous. Sonia equally loved to decorate her home and cottage. Not many people knew that Sonia was gifted at sketching and drawing, a talent her son Sean, now an architect, inherited. Sonia channeled this gift into creating a unique and yet welcoming ambiance that extended all around her “summer home”, as she liked to call it. Sonia’s creative side was always overflowing with ideas and her interior designs and decorations were an eclectic mix of antiques and modern furniture.

Sonia loved to travel; China, Thailand, Hong Kong, England, France, Italy, the Mediterranean, South America, and of course, South Beach in Miami where she and Donny loved to go in the winter. Even Sonia’s kids, their spouses, and grandchildren got in on the action in SoBe! México was also one of Sonia and Donny’s favourite destinations, as they started to go there in the early 1960’s before it was built up.

Out of all of Sonia’s loves, nothing was greater than her love for her dearest husband Donny. Together for 63 years, Donny was the one true love of Sonia’s life. She loved him to the core and completely spoiled him with her cooking, whipping up whatever he might have been craving. As a true Scorpio, Sonia was as loyal as the day is long to Donny and their children.

Sonia’s friends were also extremely important to her. She would be the first one to offer help and was as generous with her time as she was with gifts for special occasions. Sonia was the most thoughtful person in finding the exact right present for whomever was being celebrated, and would also go to great lengths to wrap the gift with that extra-special Sonia flair.

Sonia was also a completely dedicated daughter. In her parents’ later years, Sonia took excellent care of both her mother and father, as well as her mother-in-law. Donny would often praise her for her very caring nature.

Sonia’s dedication to family also extended to her dear sister Stella. They were the best of friends with cottages a short drive from one another. They enjoyed their summers up north, going to the theatre, out for dinner, and shopping for antiques. We all know that Sonia was 100% there for Stella in her later years and missed her terribly when she passed on.

As a mother, Sonia’s two children, Melony and Sean, never did without, and once they married, neither did their spouses! Birthday parties, graduations, bridal showers, weddings, and baby showers were all carefully planned and spectacular events for all who attended.

A proud Baba, Sonia’s three granddaughters, Xzana, Danielle, and Violet-Jean, each unique in their own way, were without a doubt, the apple of her eye. The girls adore their Baba and look up to her as a role model for what a family should be. Baba will be in their hearts and minds forever.

There will simply never be another Sonia. From humble beginnings, as the daughter of extremely hard-working immigrants, Sonia created an unforgettable life for herself and her family. Her energy, passion, dedication, and most of all, her powerful love touched all those who were fortunate enough to make her acquaintance, let alone call her friend.

Sonia made everyone’s life better. Her light was so strong and it has not gone out as it lives on in her children and grandchildren. Her strength became ours and we will carry on her traditions, dedication, generosity, work ethic, spontaneity, creativity, and most of all her passion for life, love, and complete devotion to family and friends.

Although we are completely heartbroken that Sonia has left us so suddenly, we take heart and solace in the fact that she taught us all how it’s done; work, life, and love. The tremendous outpouring of deep affection for Sonia is a testimony for how much she meant to so very many people. She was truly our Queen.

Her “Little Family”, as she called them, consisting of her mother, father, and sister are embracing our Dearest Sonia right now, with open arms, as are her beloved cousins Genya, Dee, and Sam, and friends who’ve gone before her.

You were the Star of the Show and your light will always and forever shine with that spectacular brilliance that was uniquely yours. We will miss you and love you always and forever.

Sonia resting at Cardinal Funeral Home at 366 Bathurst. Visitation will be on Thursday September 22 from 2 – 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm. Panachyda at 6:45 pm. A funeral service will be held at the Chapel at the same location at 10 am, Friday September 23rd. Interment to follow at York Cemetery.

Donations to The Salvation Army would be greatly appreciated.

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