Sonia Grace Flynn Hey, 90, passed away peacefully at home January 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Calling hours will be held on, Sunday, Jan. 26 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Perkins-Ames Funeral Home in Gorham. A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Rushville on Monday, Jan. 27, at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Shuman Cemetery immediately following.
Memorials contributions in Sonia's name may be made to Rushville History Room, P.O. Box 51, Rushville, N.Y. 14544; Middlesex Heritage Group, 1216 State Route 245, Middlesex, N.Y. 14507; Friendship House, 4616 Williams St., Middlesex, N.Y. 14507; or to the Town of Gorham Historical Society's building fund, P.O. Box 90, Gorham, N.Y. 14461.
Sonia was born April 26, 1934, in Canandaigua to her parents, Charles (Mert) and Olive (Hadsell) Flynn. She married the singer she most admired, Ken Hey, on September 26, 1952. They were blessed to celebrate 67 years together with an ever-growing family, in which she took great pride.
Sonia made sure her children were exposed to her passion for many genres of music, a lifelong love she shared with Ken. She was a member of many church choirs over the course of her life, sang at friends' weddings, and proudly joined Ken's band, The Country Rhythmaires, onstage at various jamborees and gigs around Yates and Ontario counties and beyond.
She loved to garden and enjoyed being outside listening to birdsong and taking walks with her beloved dogs. As a child and into her young adult years she tied grapes in her grandfather's vineyards and picked buckets of berries on South Hill. She dabbled with playing golf, and in more recent years took pleasure in colored penciling, completing puzzles, and reading biographies of her favorite musicians. The Buffalo Bills, Yankees, and Syracuse Orange were her absolute favorite teams to cheer for.
Sonia had many work adventures: as a bank teller in the 1960s, as a clerk for her father-in-law at Carl's Gun Shop, and then at Dudley Poultry as first a secretary, then retiring after 30 years as office manager.
She believed in giving back to her community, and did so by volunteering at the Friendship House, Middlesex Heritage Group, Rushville History Room, and as a member of the Town of Gorham Historical Society. In 2015 she was named the Dedicated Citizen for the Middlesex Memorial Day Parade, and in 2016 she was honored by the Rushville Lions Club as Citizen of the Year.
Sonia was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Rushville and appreciated the friendship of her pastors and fellow parishioners for more than 40 years.
Devoted to her family, Sonia took great pride in her children and grandchildren. She took equal pleasure in watching her great-grandchildren become the amazing people they are.
A lovely woman, sister, and friend, she will be missed beyond measure as matriarch of her adoring family.
Sonia is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Robin) Hey, of Stanley; Jill Ripley, of Penn Yan; and Joy (John) Schnupp, of Delavan, Wis.; daughter-in-law, Laurie Elwell Hey, of Penn Yan; sisters Marlene (Don) Liddiard, of Middlesex, and Kathleen (Dale Chrysler) Mitchell of Middlesex; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her parents, Mert and Olive Flynn; her husband, Kenneth C. Hey; her son, James K. Hey; and grandson, Jevon T. Hey.
Sonia's family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Valley View Family Practice for the wonderful care she received over the years, and to the nurses at UR Medicine Hospice Home Care, and aides with Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service for their excellent, compassionate care.
