Sonnia Alicia Brito

Sonnia was born in Havana Cuba in June 15 of 1934. She was the second daughter of Manuel Madera and Alicia Valiente along with three brothers: Manolo, Nelson, and César. She graduated from high school, where she learned homemaking including knitting, baking, babysitting, first aid, in addition to core high school subjects. She then graduated as a librarian. She worked at the Reader's Digest in Havana.  

She married Dr. José Brito in 1957 and visited the US on their honeymoon consisting of a beautiful trip from Key West to New York. They had two daughters, Sonia and Teresa. In 1965, due to the entry of communism in Cuba, they emigrated to Venezuela.  She loved Venezuela deeply and had a wonderful life there. She lived in Caracas for 35 years. After her daughters’ marriages, she dedicated herself to working with her husband, assisting in his medical office. In 2000 they emigrated to the US for reasons similar to those that forced her to leave Cuba. She first moved to the city of Miami, where she lived for five years. Then she moved to South Bend, Indiana, to the house of her daughter Teresa and son in-law Eric, where she lived the last years of her life. She became an American citizen, learned English and deeply loved this country which became her last home. 

Sonnia was much loved by every person she met. She left a cheerful, jovial, imprint on everyone. Her fun, spunky spirit, was (is) of great depth and wisdom. She was kind and charismatic. Sonnia was an excellent mother, daughter, wife and grandmother. She had three grandchildren: Simon Andres, Sonnia Jane and Jane Maria and three step grandchildren: Libby, Rick and Christina. She helped raise her grandson, Simón Andres, and later her two youngest granddaughters, Sonnia Jane and Jane Maria. She loved her two sons- in- law. Eric Robinson, who gave them great times of happiness, joy, support and hospitality who loved to cook for her and introduced her to the American cuisine. Also, Miguel Arguelles, who as a doctor played an important role in her health and wellness and brought her memories of her husband Jose due to their similarities.  She also enjoyed his delicious Cuban flavor on traditional dishes. 

Sonnia was an excellent cook and specialized in Cuban and Venezuelan food. She took special care in presentation and flavor. She was very skilled at knitting and made spectacular cloth items for babies in her family and for friends. Sonnia was very creative, she learned to draw and to do calligraphy. She was also interested in science and greatly enjoyed deep scientific conversations with her daughter Teresa. She loved to talk to her daughter Sonia, who made Sonnia laugh, and provided her never-ending joy. 

Sonnia was our friend, our rock, an endless source for love and wisdom. Her motto: “happiness is made up of moments, you need to treasure those moments”. She always focused on getting things done well, and fast, and saw the bright side of things.  Sonnia was loving and protective, she took care of her family and her loved ones. 

Sonnia also loved having fun, loved music and musicals, and was a great dancer.  From Perry Como, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ernesto Bonino, and Andrea Bocelli to Bob Marley and Freddie Mercury. 

Sonnia was very comfortable with technology. She used a laptop, a smartphone, and a smart TV. She had a Facebook and an Instagram account which she often used to stay in touch with her family and friends. She gave opinions on television programs and from her small screen she could know the lives of her loved ones.  

Sonnia was very interested in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, quantum physics, biology, ancient civilizations, the pyramids, and the origin of life. While she is no longer physically here her spirit lives on. She still shelters us. We feel her presence in everything, in every touch, in every detail around us.  

She was a firm believer in God, in Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary to whom she prayed to with great devotion. 

She was both a small girl, doing snow angels one day, and a wise elder the next giving us advice. She will always be in our hearts, and she will be someone very special who impacted the lives not only of her family but of all those who knew her.  As they say, it is not a goodbye, but a “see you later”. We love you forever!!! 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sonnia Alicia Brito, please visit our floral store.