Sonya Kay (Grabill) McKitrick DePaula, 75, passed peacefully from this life on Monday in Tahlequah, Okla., with her family and dedicated caregivers by her side. She is already missed for the laughter she brought with her each day she lived.
She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Paul and Mary (Bradley) Grabill.
Those left to cherish Sonya's memory include her loving husband of 25 years, Carl Joseph DePaula; a daughter, Colleen Treml and husband, Paul, of Murrysville; two sons: Alex DePaula and wife, Melissa, of Malvern and Geoffrey DePaula and wife, Eileen, of Milford, Mass.; and a sister, Marilee "Cricket" Dunn and husband, John, of Columbia, Mo.
Her legacy lives on in her six grandchildren: Adam Treml, Tyler Treml, Hayley Treml, Katelyn DePaula, Kara DePaula and Kai DePaula; as well as her cherished nieces, nephews and cousins and her pets who where her constant companions.
Upon graduating from Altoona High School, Sonya attended Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of nursing in Pittsburgh and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University. She was an accomplished cardiac critical care nurse. She spent many years living in suburban Philadelphia before becoming a proud citizen of Tahlequah, Okla., in 2003 with her beloved husband, Carl.
Sonya was a member of the American Association of University Women and gave of her time to other local charities; the more she gave to others, the better she felt. She loved working in her garden and enjoyed going shopping with the girls. She was an avid reader and loved music, especially jazz; she also loved her trips to Ocean City, N.J., with her family.
Her very biggest joys were her grandchildren. She was so very, very proud of all their accomplishments and imparted in all of them a wonderful spirit for pursuing all the best that life has to offer. She was simply the best wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at Tahlequah Unitarian Church, 104 N. College Ave., Tahlequah, Okla., Pastor Doug Inhofe officiating. Another memorial service will be held in Philadelphia this fall.
Those wishing to express their sympathy to the family are asked to consider donations to The Hospice of the Cherokee, 1630 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 3-B, Tahlequah, OK 74464.
