Sonia Bacalla (Hoover)
Died December 15, 2020, Riverside County, California
She was born in Richmond, IN, the second of four daughters to Russell and Mary Ann Hoover on Feb 13, 1937.
Sonia graduated Richmond High School in 1955. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Earlham College in 1977.
Sonia relocated to Southern California in 1980 with her husband, Nicanor Bacalla, where she was a small business owner/operator, retiring in 2000. With her husband, she enjoyed music, visiting the ocean and admiring the beautiful California sunsets. They enjoyed watching Laker basketball games together. They were married 33 years. He preceded her in death, 2013.
Sonia was a devoted mother. She had seven children with her first husband Basil D. Shaw I.
Basil D. Shaw II, Daniel (deceased) and Mercedes Shaw, Jennifer and Peter Meyers, Kelly and Jeff Spitler, Rachel and Rickey Blackburn, Roger (deceased) and Bonnie Shaw, Rebekah and Craig Christy. Both parents loved their children and took pride in their accomplishments. They were blessed with 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Sonia loved family gatherings, especially the much-anticipated annual Christmas Tea hosted for over 25 years by her daughter Rachel. Sonia was a wonderful cook, serving countless hearty midwestern suppers. In retirement she enjoyed lunching with her daughters at their favorite Mediterranean café.
Upon moving to Southern California, she attended the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. It was a dream come true to worship and be encouraged and blessed every Sunday by the ministry of Robert Schuller. She loved attending the seasonal pageants of The Glory of Christmas and The Glory of Easter.
Being thankful for a blest life, she recently reflected that the best years were those nestled with her family in a humble white frame on the corner of S. 11th Street and C, when the days were full and busy and tired children slept three to a bed.
We love our mother. God rest her soul.