On December 23, 2024, Tonia Marie Sorensen, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, baby sister, coolest aunt, chief adventure buddy, and devoted friend, graced heaven with her presence, at the age of 74.
February 20, 1950, at the Payson Hospital, Tonia was born to Fred and Lorna Sorensen of Salem, Utah and her adventures in life began. Tonia was the youngest of their three children. She brought so much joy to their family with her happy-go-lucky, fun-loving, and vivacious personality.
Tonia was an animal lover, especially horses. She had her band of stick horses, complete with manes, reins and bushy, leaf tails. She took great pride in the care of her stick horses. She always made sure to hitch them, feed and water each one in their special tree corralls, after their rides around the Sorensen Service Station. When Tonia was around 8 years old, became the owner of her first horse, Lady’s feisty spirit paled in comparison to Tonia’s fierce determination and strong will.
She was devoted to her many pets. Her orphaned, scaredy lambs, Chocolate and Bannilla lived lives with long tails, because she refused to allow them to be docked. The only pet she never cared for was the stalking rooster that would wait for her to get off the school bus, and chase her across the yard in a race to see who could make it to the front porch first. Tonia’s most fond companions were her canine pals throughout the years who went with her: Boober, Corky, and her beloved Zeus, who was her best buddy for 16 years.
Tonia graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1968. She furthered her education by attending Utah Technical College, earning her Associate Degree in Practical Nursing. Tonia served her patients with empathy and compassion regardless of their situation or needs. This was her mantra for success throughout her 42 year nursing career, at the Old Nephi Hospital and Central Valley Medical Center. Her patients would often seek Tonia out to thank her for blessing their life, and caring for them during some of the most difficult days.
Tonia was incredibly creative. She had masterful skills in quilting, crocheting, embroidery, and crafting. Tonia had such a generous and kind heart. She gifted her beautiful creations of crocheted afghans, doilies, receiving blankets, burp cloths, and custom quilts to those she loved and cared about.
If we ever wanted a partner in crime, Tonia was the best adventure buddy to call. Whether it was snack runs to the local convenience store or sleepovers at her home with her nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, Tonia was always up to the adventure. She was first in the car, or ready to plan the next adventure trip to see the world.
Tonia’s travels took her to all parts of the world, specifically Alaska, England, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Pompeii, Israel and the Holy Land. The best part for her family was listening to her adventures, and stories about what she saw, the people she met in addition to sharing the pictures of the beautiful things she would see, before the era of social media and video travel logs. Tonia’s favorite adventure buddies were her daughter, Suelynn, and her many friends.
Tonia’s pride and joy was her daughter Suelynn (Sorensen) Johnson, and becoming “Grandma T” to her Dusty, Josie, and Brandon, and her pack kept growing with her great-grandchildren Georgia, Aryan, Krayson.
Tonia is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Lorna Sorensen, her brother, Jay Sorensen, and several of her life-long friends. She is survived by her daughter Suelynn (Ron) Johnson, sister Freya (Don) Breinholt, Sister in law, Mildred Sorensen, grandchildren Dustin Johnson, Jossette (Hagan) Maples, Brandon Johnson, great-grandchildren Georgia, Aryan, Krayson, and her nieces and nephews, Cori (Breinholt) Jacobson, Cami (Breinholt) Tippetts, Rodney Sorensen, Cari (Breinholt)Hutchison, Darla (Sorensen) Anderson, Chitra (Breinholt) Graff, Walter Sorensen.
Tonia will be remembered for her vivacious spirit, quick wit, wry sometimes demented sense of humor. Likewise, Tonia’s kindness, compassion, and generosity everyone she associated with.
Thank you Tonia, for gracing us with YOUR presence in our lives, we are better people because of you.
A special thanks to Beehive Home and I Care Home Health and Hospice of Spanish Fork for providing the same kind of compassionate care to Tonia as she gave to her patients throughout her years of nursing and caregiving.
A celebration of Tonia Marie Sorensen’s Life will be held in the Spring, her favorite time of the year. Details and arrangements will be announced at a later date.
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