Obituary of Sonya M. Ward-Dezan
Sonya M. Ward-Dezan
Loving Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, and Friend
Sonya Michelle Ward-Dezan, 46, died after a short illness on October 26, 2023 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Born and raised in Manchester, UK, Sonya lived in Philadelphia, PA from 1998 until 2007 and then settled to Dunellen until 2022. She then relocated to New Delhi, India in August 2022 with her husband and the children.
Sonya served as an Executive Staff Assistant at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in New Delhi, India. She coordinated with teams across the United States Government to deliver on USAID’s development mission and partnerships in India. Sonya approached her work at USAID with the same warmth, compassion, and commitment to people as she did her social work career. She also worked as a Counselor at an adult group home prior to relocating to New Delhi, India. In her early years, Sonya worked as a Social Worker in PA (including the city of Philadelphia) working with families and children.
While living in Dunellen, Sonya was very involved in the community. She created a food donation program where she held food drives at least once a week after working overnight shifts at her previous job at the adult group home. She was a proud, active member of the Living Hope Outreach Center in Dunellen, and Sunday school teacher at the Delhi International Christian Fellowship church. Sonya liked to read, dance, listen to music, travel, hike and spend time with her family. In April 2023, Sonya and her family spent their last family vacation in Goa, India where she enjoyed her first trip outside of Delhi. She recently travelled to Thailand and later within India for the USAID mission.
She had a contagious smile that impacted all those she came across. Missed by all those that knew her, Sonya was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and dear friend.
Sonya is survived by her husband of over sixteen years; Yvins Dezan of Haiti, previously resided in Dunellen, NJ and currently residing in India, daughter Aaliyah R. Dezan of Philadelphia, PA/Dunellen, NJ, son Shaka S. Sadio of Philadelphia, PA/Dunellen, NJ, son Fabrice O. Dezan and daughter Gabriella A. Dezan, both of Dunellen and residing in India. She also leaves behind her mother Maureen Ward-Kaaba of UK/Grenada, uncles Josiah Ward and Clinton Ward, both of Manchester, UK and aunt Doreen Chattington of France/UK. Sonya’s cousins; Lorna, Aiesha, Mandy, Curtis, Andrea, Natalie and Kristy Ward, Ryan and Thomas Chattington and several extended in-laws of the Dezan family will miss her dearly.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Piscataway Funeral Home, 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 from 6pm until 9pm. On Saturday, November 4, 2023, family and friends are invited to gather directly to Living Hope Outreach Center, 201 Whittier Avenue, Dunellen, NJ 08812 at 10am. A funeral service will be held at 10:30am. Sonya will be laid to rest at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway. Repast will be held immediately after at Embassy Suites-Piscataway, 121 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (1:30pm-4:30pm).