Sonja K. Chowanec

1937 - 2023

COUMBIA

Sonja K. (Bashko) Chowanec, 85 of Columbia passed away on July 30, 2023. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, she was raised in a brick tenement owned by her grandmother.

She graduated from Grammar school 1st. in her class and 2nd. in her High School, first in Math, English, and Science, and received the American Legion Award, and membership in the National Honor Society. She was an avid reader, dancer, gardener, and traveler having visited Cuba, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Montreal and 7 of the Canadian Provinces, 5 Hawaiian Islands, Alaska Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and most of the U.S. After graduation she worked for Banner Bank and Trust Co. in N.Y.C for 3 years and attended the American Institute of Banking.

She met her future husband, Peter, a dairy farmer, at a church dinner dance in 1951, while visiting her great aunt and uncle. They met again in May 1958, while she and her mother were visiting, and were married in September. They honeymooned in Mexico. She then worked for C.T. Bank Trust Co. and trained as a computer programmer. She retired from Banking in 1962 to help her husband in his business. She was a member of the Columbia Volunteer Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary, raising funds from dinners, bake sales, and Whist parties. When the Auxiliary dissolved, she became an active member of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and joined their Sisterhood also serving in the same manner. She served in the church council and Sisterhood as Secretary and sang in the church choir. She loved flowers, especially her roses, and enjoyed sharing them and her baked goods with everyone giving her joy.

She was predeceased by her husband, Peter, of 58 years, and her immediate family. She leaves her niece, Donna Kerr of Ellington, Darren Nosal, close friend and neighbor, her great-nephew, Rick Chowanec, her great- niece, Corrine LaChapelle of Ellington, a multitude of nieces and nephews in Florida, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and Vermont.

There will be a graveside service, Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery, 78 Boston Post Road, Willimantic, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Caring Voice Coalition, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, or the Scleroderma Foundation in MA.

For an online memorial guest book, please visit potterfuneralhome.com

Sonja K. (Bashko) Chowanec