After a heartbreaking, courageous and accelerated battle with ALS, lasting about 13 weeks, Sonya passed on May 12 surrounded by her loved ones. She is predeceased by her mother Myon Yon L’Esperance in 2023 and her father Thomas Hope (L’Esperance) in 2025. She is survived by her son Angelo C. DeAngelis, Spencerport, NY and daughter Dr. Emma E. DeAngelis, Dayton, OH; sisters Candy (Jim) Parkhurst, Tucson, AZ, Linda (Shawn) Fitzgerald, Holley, NY; brothers Thomas L’Esperance, Tupper Lake, NY and Ronald (Jill) L’Esperance, Henrietta, NY; and many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Sonya enjoyed gardening and visiting different garden stores. She felt working in the garden was her mental therapy and meditation time. She also loved riding her bike and visiting antique shops. She had a knack for finding unique and valuable items and took pride in finding especially great bargains. She had a love and an eye for beautiful art and design. Every possession she owned had an origin story including date and place of acquisition. She was fun loving and had a childlike side playing chalk art with great nieces and nephews and blowing her bubble gun until it ran out. Her favorite phrase was “happiness and joy”. She was a kind and generous woman who loved to help others and was known to give the shirt off her back or her last nickel to help strangers, friends, family and homeless animals. She was a loving and faithful full-time caregiver for her mother for many years which allowed her mother to remain at home until she passed.

Most of all Sonya loved spending time with her kids Angelo and Emma and took great pride in knowing they are happy successful adults. She especially enjoyed family holiday celebrations and summer picnics. She was known for traveling with her “ready to go party” sippee cup of wine that always began with her late arrival. She loved finishing the day with a one-woman dance party … sound up on the music! She loved the natural world, and a highlight of her life was seeing the Aurora Borealis one night from home.

Sonya had a strong love for and connection to all animals and specifically wishes to reiterate Bob Barker’s famous words “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.”

Interment will be private and per her wishes there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The ALS Association, ALS.org or TeamGleason.org.