Sonja Lalande Gutierrez

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 415 Robley Drive, Lafayette, LA 70503 for Sonja Ann Lalande Gutierrez, 76, of Lafayette, LA who died on April 28, 2015 at Brookdale Senior Living Center (AKA Emeritus) following a lengthy illness. A brief visitation will be held prior to the Service beginning at 8:30am. Father Howard J. Blessing will celebrate the mass with a eulogy delivered by Malcolm Domingue. Music will be provided by Glenn DeLaune with accompaniment by Martha Bryant. Born in Rayne, LA, Sonja lived her entire life in Acadiana. She graduated from Lafayette Senior High School in 1956. She led a very full life raising a family and working in numerous professions including the Diocese of Lafayette, Lens Crafters, B & L Signs and Designs and 232-HELP. Sonja loved life and always made the most of it. She loved culture of South Louisiana and enjoyed a wide range of music from classical to contemporary music. She played piano and made sure that all of her children were exposed to the joys of music. She enjoyed needlepoint embroidery and was an avid reader. Through the years, she reunited with her high school classmates and participated in luncheons and gatherings with them. In 2013, Sonja suffered a stroke and moved into Emeritus Senior Living Center (now Brookdale). The staff and residents quickly welcomed her into their fold and she became an active member of that community. Sonja is survived by her three children, John Carlos, Sr. and his wife Kim of El Dorado, AR, Laurie Ann Gutierrez Domingue and her husband Douglas of Lafayette and Mark Brady Gutierrez and his wife Lisa of Mobile , AL and one sister, Mary Ellen Lalande DeLaune of Youngsville, LA. She has six grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known to as "Mamme", John Carlos Gutierrez, Jr., Britain and Karli Domingue, Christy and Nicholas Gutierrez and William Richard Bangs; two great grandchildren, Jude Evans and Raelynn Nicole Broussard; four step grandchildren, Holly McDougal, Clint Frisby, Krystal Cook and Brennan Cook and four step great grandchildren, Spencer Frisby, Bella Frisby, Tristan McDougal and Carson Cook. Sonja is predeceased by her father, Lester Joseph Lalande; her mother Donita Huval Lalande; one son, Michael Anthony Gutierrez and two grandchildren, Michael Travis Gutierrez and Brittany Elizabeth Domingue, all from Lafayette, LA. Sonja's earthly remains have been donated to LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans for medical research. The family is grateful to Brookdale Senior Living Center and Hospice of Acadiana for their kindness and care of Sonja. We request that in lieu of flowers that memorials are made in Sonja's name to Hospice of Acadiana at 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503.

Sonja Lalande Gutierrez

September 26, 1938 - April 28, 2015