Sonia Cañas

Sonia “Sonita Cañas” was born November 29th, 1946 to Armando Hernandez and Pilar Gonzalez in El Salvador. Sonia had 12 siblings and was the second of the 13. Sonia attended Colegio Divina Providencia, San Salvador, El Salvador. She relocated to Guatemala City where she attended Colegio De Señorita El Sagrado Corazón. She graduated in the field of education and became an elementary school teacher. Sonia taught first grade at Colegio Roseau.

Soon after, Sonia connected with the love of her life, Hector Armando Cañas, who affectionately referred to her as Sonita. They married on May 26th, 1969. On September 9th, 1970 she welcomed her hijo and firstborn Hector Cañas Jr. Sonia and Hector Jr. traveled to the United States in 1973, following Hector Sr.’s prior move to California where he found work in a place for his family to live. Sonia experienced the anxiety of crossing the border with her son. She temporarily had to separate from little Hector Jr. to ensure they would both make it over without any interference. They soon reunited after crossing, joining Hector Sr. in Inglewood, California. The young and small Cañas family of three expanded to four at the birth of her mijo and youngest son, Carlos “Charlie” Cañas, on April 17th, 1978. Sonia enjoyed life with her Cañas boys and as a family they enjoyed memorable vacations, many get-togethers, trips to Disneyland, and much laughter. With two sons, came nine grandkids hence Sonia became affectionately known as “grandma”. Grandma now enjoyed taking her grandkids on family travels, creating such memories with the grandkids, in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Laughlin, and many other trips. The small Cañas family expanded even further with the move-in of Sonia's younger sister Saudi, better known as “Tia Saudi." Grandma and Tia Saudi enjoyed shopping, running errands and eating afterward, watching novelas, and teasing Hector Sr. now known as “grandpa.” Grandma's dedication to her family and grandkids was shown in a large way when she coerced Grandpa to move to El Paso Texas, so that she could remain close to her underaged grandkids. Sonia lived her final days in Texas near her youngest son Charlie, and youngest grandchildren, Matteo, Ethan, and Alice. She was able to continue to pick them up from school until their final school break just before her passing.

Sonia fell asleep in death on Monday, November 25th, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Armando Hernandez, and Pilar Gonzalez, and brother Rafael Gonzalez. She leaves behind a legacy of love through her husband Hector Armando Sr., her two sons Hector Jr., his wife (La Nicolle Cañas), Carlos and his wife (La Kim Cañas); nine grandchildren, Shannon, Lauren, Armando, Kaleb, Syria, Chai, Matteo, Ethan, Alice, and one great-grandchild Arron Cañas. Sonia has eight surviving siblings and many nieces and nephews.