Obituary: Sonia Mary Brookes

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Sonia Mary Brookes

Sonia Mary ‘Sonny’ Brookes died peacefully in her sleep on May 19. Born in New Castle on Christmas Day in 1936, she moved to London during WWII.

She met the love of her life, Cliff, at Hammersmith Palais when she was 17. It was there that they danced the night away and fell in love. Together they immigrated to Canada at the age of 22. There she started work for J. Walter Thompson advertising.

After a year, the couple moved back to England for a brief time before the newlyweds climbed aboard the Queen Mary and headed out for a new life in California. Brookes continued working for J. Walter Thompson’s LA office and in 1965 the couple built their dream home in Malibu. It was here that they raised their two children. 

“Always loving to entertain and care for everyone, their home was a place where all were welcome,” a loved one said. 

Brookes also worked for 15 years helping to produce the Air Force Ball, which gave scholarships to children whose parents were killed or MIA during wartime. 

She is preceded by Clifford Brookes and survived by her children, Steve Brookes, Karen Brookes-Redondo, her son-in-law, Eric Redondo and her grandchildren Ryan Redondo and Aaron Redondo. 

“She will be deeply missed by many,” a loved one said.