Obituary of Sonja Alice Straub On January 15, 2024, Sonja Alice Straub passed away peacefully at home. Sonja was 87. She was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania and grew up in Erie, PA. Her parents Grayce and Raymond Anderson, preceded her in death as well as her loving husband William Albert Straub, and sister, Yvonne (Bonnie) Helen Hicks. Sonja leaves behind her grateful daughters, Leslie Carol Ritter (Donald Ritter) (Dallas, Texas), granddaughters, Mariah Kaci and Grace Elizabeth, and daughter Kirstin Ingrid Stacia, (Richmond, VA) and granddaughters Ingrid Agnes, Sonja Caroline and Annika Helen and her sister, Karenn Ingrid Markiewicz (Dallas, TX). Sonja graduated as valedictorian from McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania and Cornell University with a degree in Home Economics. Sonja married Bill in 1958 and began teaching at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh. She then earned her masters degree from Carnegie Tech (now CMU) in Home Economics Education. Sonja became a realtor in the early 80s and spent over 30 years helping people find their perfect homes. Sonja and Bill shared a lifelong love affair. They first vacationed at Deer Valley YMCA Camp in 1963 and returned every year since, with Sonja even serving on the Deer Valley Board of Directors for many years. Deer Valley is where Sonja first played tennis and learned to sail, both lifetime passions. Sonja was an avid tennis player and loved passing her time watching tennis in her later years. Sonja loved the water, being in it and on it. Lifelong members of Sylvan Canoe Club, the girls grew up on the Allegheny River. No matter what the water temperature, Sonja was always up for a swim. In her later years, Sonja maintained her health by enjoying her water aerobics with friends at YMCAs in Richmond, Virginia and Dallas, Texas. Sonja and Bill Sonja had a wonderful network of friends in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. In supporting Bills chemistry career, they were both involved in PittCon and made many memories and friends over the years. They spent time with neighbors, hosting gourmet dinners and swimming at Foxwood Pool. Neighbors and friends would often see Bill twirling Sonja around the dance floor at the weddings. Sonja always had a book in her hand, usually a mystery. She instilled a love of reading in her daughters and granddaughters. Sonja and Bill enjoyed visiting with family at the New Jersey shore, and Sonja loved cruising with Bills cousins. Sonja was dedicated to her granddaughters and their sports and activities and attended concerts and games as often as she could. Anyone who met Sonja noted her bright smile which could light up a room. Every day, Sonja woke up happy and greeted the day with that smile. Hers was a life well-lived and well-loved. She will be dearly missed. Some life celebrations will be planned in Dallas, Pittsburgh and Deer Valley, where she will rest in the Memorial Garden next to her husband, Bill. If you feel compelled to honor her, a donation can be made in her memory to the Deer Valley Conservancy at the camp where she attended with her family. https://www.pittsburghymca.org/dvconservancy at Deer Valley YMCA Camp, 254 Deer Valley Drive, Fort Hill, PA 15540.