STEPHEN SONIA

STEPHEN SONIA LANCASTER - Stephen Noel Sonia, 76, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Stephen was born on September 21, 1948, in Clinton, son of the late William E. and Katherine (Provencher) Sonia. He resided in Lancaster his entire life. Stephen attended Lancaster Public Schools, the former Julie Country Day School in Leominster, and graduated from Hudson Catholic High School. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in English from Stonehill College, Mr. Sonia taught English for 37 years in Milford, N.H. He was instrumental in bringing to Milford the John Collins Writing Program, which is still in use district-wide. During the early part of his teaching career, Stephen also served seven years in the MA National Guard in Leominster and Otis AFB. Music was an important part of Stephen's life. He was the music director of St. Theresa, the Little Flower Church in Harvard from 1968 until 2005 and continued in that capacity with the newly created Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Bolton/Harvard until his passing. During his music career, Stephen was also an assistant organist at Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Worcester, organist at Evangelical Congregational Church in Lancaster, the former First Church of Christ, Scientist in Clinton, and St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster. Stephen also was the funeral organist at St. Joseph Parish in Fitchburg and numerous other Catholic churches throughout the Worcester Diocese. Since his retirement from teaching in 2008, Stephen had more time to devote to his love of gardening and most recently, his garden railroad. Commuters who passed his house each day were also treated to holiday decorations during each season. He leaves his faithful friend of 34 years, Craig J. Stine of Lancaster, with whom he resided; his brother, William Sonia of Dallas, Texas; sister-in-law, Carol Sonia of Lancaster; and generations of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, John "Jack" Sonia, and sister, Karen Bouffard. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9:30 until 11 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, 809 Main St., Lancaster, with a Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 11 a.m. and interment in Eastwood Cemetery, Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in memory of Stephen Sonia to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, P.O. Box 746, Harvard, MA 01451. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton. Online condolences may be placed at www.philbincomeaufh.com.