Sonja Trautner

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sonja Trautner, age 95, on February 3rd, 2025. She died peacefully with her close family by her side in Jacksonville Florida, where she lived for nearly 20 years.

The only daughter of Hans Trautner and Valerie Delattre, Sonja was born in Duisburg, Germany on February 6, 1929. She immigrated to the United States in 1956 where she married Warren Robert Sanchez (1932-2009) and had two sons, Francis Robert Sanchez (68) and Michael Andrew Sanchez (66), both surviving her and residing in Florida.

Sonja was an accomplished artist starting in Germany where she was an illustrator for magazines and billboards before she found her calling as a painter and sculpturer of animals. Her love of animals led her to a lifelong profession of being a freelance artist, adorning countless peoples’ homes with portraits of their beloved pets. Cats were her passion, and she gave her time, opened her home and organized a community of volunteers to help any cat in need. Sonja honored her heritage by introducing authentic German culinary experiences that pleased all that were lucky enough to share her meals. As a strong and independent person, she lived in her own home, loved gardening and caring for her beloved felines until the end.

Aside from Francis and Michael, Sonja is survived by her five grandchildren, Andrew, Jessica, Shauna, Matthew and Sophia, as well as her great grandson Wyatt. The family would like to acknowledge her extended family of dear friends including Maryanne Maier, Eszter Jenei Kosik, Arno Kieckhafer, Alice Olliff and Terri Jordan Fitzgerald who were always there for her and meant the world to her.

Sonja is interred at the Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home and burial services will be held at the Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207 on Friday February 21st at 1:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to Cheshire Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, run by her granddaughter Shauna (www.cheshirecatrescue.org) or the Equus Foundation, a nationally accredited animal welfare organization for horses (www.equusfoundation.org). Both are registered 501(c)3 charities.