On June 3, 2019, Sonia passed away at the age of 93.
Sonia was the only child of Stephen & Olga Anhel and grew up in the Drumheller Valley which she loved throughout her life. She excelled in music and gave recitals as a student prior to entering the Faculty of Nursing at University of Alberta in 1943. She graduated in the class of 1947 with a degree from the U of A and taught in Schools in Nursing in Alberta and British Columbia. In 1954 she married Raymond Batt, an electrical Engineer from the University of Manitoba. The Batt’s lived mainly in Alberta and retired there.
Sonia has resided in the Touchmark Nursing Home for the past four years and will be missed by her colleagues, friends, and nieces, Dr. Jane (Batt) Bain (Ontario), Gwen Batt Hansen (Denmark), and a number of cousins.
A Celebration of Sonia’s Life will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2019, at Connelly-McKinley Downtown Funeral Home, 10011 – 114 Street NW. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, 13819- 82 St NW, Edmonton.
Gwen (Batt) Hansen says
So sad to hear about the passing of my Aunt Sonia. She was a very proud wife and home maker. She often spoke fondly of her fellow nursing classmates and co-workers, and enjoyed her visits and conversations with them. Sonia was also very proud of her Ukrainien heritage. Her mother and father remained an active part of her life until their own passing.
Sonia was a very loving and devoted wife to my Uncle Ray. They shared many many happy years together, and especially enjoyed a trip they had taken together to Hawaii.
As a young child my parents, sister Jane and I would visit them on a yearly basis, as at that time, we’re living in Ontario.
With the passing of my own parents in 1976, Sonia and Ray took my sister and I into their home for a year.
I have not had the opportunity to return to Alberta since that time, however we kept in touch by mail over the years .
I moved to Denmark and married in 1996 .
I know that with the passing of her beloved husband Ray, Sonia must have been heart broken, it is comforting to know that she is now reunited with him.
Rest in peace Aunt Sonia. I will say a prayer for you
Ed Trott says
She was an unbelievably good person, and Ray was also. I knew them for many years (we used to have the house next door) and visited her at Touchmark. She will be missed.
I have to be in Toronto on Monday, so I will not be at the funeral.
Jane Batt says
I was sad to hear of Aunt Sonia’s passing. She was a formidable and proud woman, establishing a career at a time when it was not so easy for women to do so. She enjoyed nursing immensely and spoke of her time in her profession often and with warm recollections.
She and Uncle Ray were gracious hosts, and entertained our family every summer when we flew from Ontario, to visit. I remember seeing the Northern lights for the first time as a small girl one beautiful summer evening in Edmonton, thanks to Sonia and Ray convincing my parents we should stay up past our bedtime to watch them. It was a spectacular night – an incredible show that I will never forget.
I hope that she has now found peace, and is reunited with Ray.
Sheilagh Herauf says
I have many good memories of the times Uncle Ray & Aunt Sonia drove down from Edmonton to visit us in Calgary or when we went up to see them when I was a little girl. They were both lovely people, full of love, laughter, and wonderful hospitality, and we always looked forward to our visits with them.
Aunt Sonia never got over Uncle Ray’s passing and afterwards, often voiced her impatience to be reunited with him in death. Although her passing saddens me, I’m glad she’s back with the love of her life.
May God bless you and grant you eternal happiness, Aunt Sonia. Rest in peace.
Jean Elbrond says
My mother was a resident in Touchmark until her passing in December. Before Sonia was overcome by her own illness, she treated our mother with compassion as well as both my sister and I who are handicapped. She always asked after our health, and had a ready compliment on our appearance. A very dear lady who we loved to see when making visits to see our mom. We were very sorry to learn of her passing.