Sonja Maria Levinson

Sonja Maria Levinson passed away peacefully on May 13, 2025, at the age of 84.

She was born on June 7, 1940, in Tanjung Pandan, on the island of Belitung, Indonesia, to Johannes Buijk and Annie Lamoh. At the age of ten, Sonja moved to the Netherlands. After completing high school, she traveled to England, where she worked as an au pair.

In the late 1960s, Sonja immigrated to the United States, first living briefly in Chicago before settling in San Francisco. She returned to the Netherlands for a year, during which time her son was born, before relocating to Los Angeles. There, she spent over three decades dedicated to early childhood education, ultimately serving as the director of the West Los Angeles Methodist Preschool. She also spent a year living in Mexico City with her family. Following her retirement, she moved to the Boston area to be closer to her grandchildren.

Sonja was a woman of quiet strength and resilience, who devoted herself to caring for others throughout her life. She spoke several languages, and had a deep love of travel and music-from her early enthusiasm for the Rolling Stones and the Beatles to her later appreciation for classical music and live performances. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word games, gardening, and crafting, and was an avid reader with a particular fondness for The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, and mystery novels. She had a wonderfully irreverent sense of humor and was a devoted friend, mother, and grandmother. The birth of her great-granddaughter brought her special joy.

Sonja is survived by her son, Max Levinson; her former daughter-in-law, Allison Eldredge; her granddaughters, Natalie and Jessica; and her great-granddaughter, Mabel. She is also survived by her former husband, Stan Levinson; her siblings, Roy Buijk and Clementine Rounds; and close friends who were like family, including Ann Pittel and her daughter, Vanessa Seder. She was predeceased by her sister, Rose Marie Buijk, and her brother, Hans Buijk.

Sonja's life was marked by quiet generosity, enduring love for her family, and a steadfast commitment to nurturing others. She will be deeply missed.

A private memorial service will be held on the afternoon of June 2. Please contact a member of the family for more details.