Sonja Annelieze Hehl
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint
Isaiah 40:31
On April 25, 2003 Sonja was called into the presence of her dear Lord and Savior, after a courageous battle with cancer, at the youthful age of 64 years.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband Robert; her daughter Joan (Garry) Steinbrenner, her son Raymond; her grandchildren, Tyler and Brittany; as well as her mother Louse Hoeben of Holland and her sisters Ineke, Iris, Kinny, Mariska, Gwen, Esmee, and brother Dennis of Holland and numerous family and friends. Sonja was predeceased by her father, Wil Bookelaar.
Sonja was born on February 13, 1939 in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the age of 14 she and her sister Ineke left Indonesia to live with their father in Holland. She attended a School for Home Economy and graduated with high marks. After she took a course in modeling and work as a model in one of the department stores in Almelo, Holland. In 1961 she married Robert Hehl.
Out of this marriage were two children born Joan and Raymond.
In 1967, she and her husband immigrated to Canada and started their new life in Alberta. As her husband was employed with several oil companies, they were moving to several places in Alberta.
In 1980 her husband Robert graduated from the Northwest College in Edmonton and she became a pastor’s wife. Together they were pastoring several churches, Gibbons (Alberta), Hixon (BC), Edmonton (Alberta), Barriere (BC).
On April 1, 1999, she and her husband Robert were called to pastor the Pentecostal Christian Life Assembly in Barriere. In the 4 years that she lived in Barriere she made many friends and was loved by them. Her life exists of serving her Lord and Savior with all her heart. She loved life and everyone who came in contact with noticed and remembered her friendliness and bright smile.
She will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her infectious joy and laughter, her love of gardening, a generous spirit and most of all her kind heart.
Special thanks to Dr. Jennifer Thomas and the nursing staff at the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital, Clearwater, BC, for their exceptional care and attention.
A Memorial Service was held on April 28, 2003 at the Pentecostal Christian Life Assembly. After the service refreshment was served by the ladies of the Open Door Church, the United Church, Anglican Church, Roman Catholic Church and the Pentecostal Christian Life Assembly. Pastor Robert Hehl wishes to express his gratitude for this kindness.
She was buried on May 1, 2003 at the Evergreen Memorial Garden in Edmonton, Alberta. Memorial tributes may be made to the Cancer Foundation.