Sonja Helen Escalante

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Sonja Helen Escalante, loved by all who knew her and shared a laugh. Sonja celebrated her 90th birthday last August and was still taken too soon, still living on her own, still driving her sports car, active on social media and sharp as a tack.

Born on August 11, 1932 in Augsberg, Germany, Sonja lived through WWII and remembered vividly life under Hitler before escaping the advancing Russian army on foot with the family's worldly possessions in a pushcart. She was proud to be an immigrant to this country.

She was married to Jesse Escalante for more than 20 years, before divorcing in the late 70's. She found work making silk flower bouquets for "A Touch of Elegance," on Main Street, eventually purchasing the store from the owner Betty Irvine. Sonja operated the store for more than 30 years, outfitting brides, grooms, quinceañera participants, partygoers and anyone celebrating a special occasion. She closed the store in her late 80's when she felt she could not provide the level of service she demanded for her customers. Every dress left perfectly ironed and checked, rechecked, and checked again for wrinkles!

Sonja had many interests. She played Ping-Pong competitively in Germany, would hike up the mountains and ski down in the winter, rode her bicycle everywhere, and when she came to America, she took up bowling and was an excellent player. She loved her garden, her knitting and needlework, cooking German food and decorating her home. She would visit her mother in Medford and considered the German Club in Santa Cruz to be family.

She passed away peacefully on July 6, 2023 in Monterey, California, from cardio-respiratory failure brought on by the deterioration of an aortic valve replacement and sepsis.

A rosary will be held for her at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel on Main Street in Watsonville, on August 9th from 5pm until 9 p.m.

Published in The Pajaronian · August 3, 2023