Saying goodbye to Sonya

SUMMERFORD - Hundreds and hundreds of people poured into the Summerford Pentecostal Church last Wednesday to say goodbye to Sonya Marie Rogers.

The 23-year-old woman lost her life Jan. 18 when she was stabbed multiple times in her Summerford home by a 23-year-old Virgin Arm man. He then took his own life in a shed in his home community.

Sonya's son Kaiden, who will turn three next month, was in the home at the time and may have witnessed some of the violence.

Sonya was remembered by family, friends and neighbours as a "precious girl - happy, carefree and loving as a child". That didn't change as she grew up into a woman who remained close to her family and who was a dedicated mother to "the love of her life" Kaiden.

The two-hour funeral service appeared to take an emotional toll on everyone as they searched for answers as to why this young woman was taken from them.

Summerford mayor Clayton LeDrew said the town could not have experienced any more of a tragedy than the sudden death of Sonya.

He also noted that on the morning of the funeral, he had received a call from 10-year-old Danté Hiscock of Lewisporte.

"He said he wants to do something for the little boy (Kaiden)," said Mr. LeDrew.

Danté has offered to perform a gospel concert free of charge with the proceeds going towards the trust fund that has been set up for Kaiden. In the coming weeks arrangements are expected to be made for such a concert in Summerford.

"I though it was something special," said the mayor.

A family member said in a Telegram article that Sonya's sister, Tara Rogers, felt there needed to be something done to keep her sister's memory intact and carried on down the road.

"Kaiden is three-years-old: Kaiden will not always be three-years-old," Sonya's uncle Roy Jenkins. "A trust fund would probably give Kaiden a good start in his life.

"It will give him an education. Who knows? Maybe this will inspire that boy to become something that will be advantageous years down the road in situations that are just like this."

The trust fund has been set up with Scotiabank in the names of Almon (Sonya's father) and Tara Rogers.

The funeral service continued with a song selection Jesus Loves Me. This song was included because it was one that the young mother sang with her son at Sunday School. Sonya was also remembered in the tribute by her sister for teaching her son I's the B'y' with memories of the whole family dancing around and singing that song.

In the moving tribute to her younger sister and best friend, Tara did what she set out to do, speak "the most important thing she would ever have to say." It was something she had imagined doing at her sister's wedding some day or at her 50th birthday party, but not like this. With only a few years separating them in age, Tara spoke of the evident closeness she had with her only sibling. She spoke of her sister's love of the outdoors, of snowmobiling, boating, fishing with her father and swimming with her mother. The family had a closeness shared by four of them that grew to five with the birth of Kaiden in 2005.

"Sonya's favourite thing was going out in boat to an island and having a barbecue," said Tara. "It was not long before Kaiden was out to. He was only a couple of months old the first time."

Tara reflected on how from the moment her sister became pregnant with Kaiden, how she did everything right for him.

"She was young and she was ready (to be a mother). She did everything for and with him. There were months she went without sleep, but she never ran out of patience.

"She wanted to fill his life with love, laughter and fun. Kaiden loved his mom - she was his whole world."

That love between mother and son was evident through a slideshow set to the music I Will Remember You, as fond photos of memories with Sonya were displayed - with the photos of Kaiden striking a chord amongst the mourners.

Tara added that her sister was the best, that she couldn't have asked for any better.

"She was there through the downtimes and the heartaches," Tara said. "She was always there for me."

She remembered the giggles, talks and dancing in front of the mirror until they got tired of laughing at themselves.

"I miss her voice, her heart, her humour and her hugs."

Pastor William Stacey spoke of how he searched to find the words to those people who were wondering where God was to allow something like this to happen.

"This town, this island never had a storm such as this," he said. "While it rages and we wonder if there is any hope, wonder if God deserted us or not, He's standing by."

The Pastor took the opportunity to implore young people, mothers and fathers, and those who are responsible for children, to take a look at their lives.

"My biggest fear over the past few weeks and months is that you are living too fast," he said. "No mom or dad, sister or little boy should have to go through what this family has gone through or the family down the road has gone through.

"If we don't act together we're going to be torn apart again and again."

He made himself available to every young person, whether it be midnight, 1 a.m. or 5 a.m.

"Don't feel you can't call any clergy you know," he said of himself and of the number of clergy gathered for the funeral service.

As the final goodbyes were said to Sonya, the family followed her white casket out with the song In the Arms of The Angels.

Ms. Rogers is survived by her son Kaiden, sister Tara and parents Marilyn and Almon.

Funeral services were held for the 23-year-old man on Jan. 22.

- With files from Paul Banks of The Telegram