Eric C. Sonnier

Eric passed away peacefully with his family by his side after a courageous battle with glioblastoma, he fought to the very end.  He is survived by his loving wife Bridget (O'Rourke) and their daughter Tiffany, a brother Francis(Frank) Sonnier his fiancée Mika, and a sister Laura Alejandro.  He leaves behind his sister-in-laws  Mary (O'Rourke) Sweet her husband Mike, Kathy (O'Rourke) Lavin and her husband Mark.  

He leaves behind his beloved dogs, Oliver (Big Sexy),Healy and Lucy, they never left his side.  

He leaves behind several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly and many friends, Millie Mejia who was like a mother to him, his best friends Randy Wentworth, June Mejia, Jose (Ite) Santana, Chris Shaughnessy, Maria(Leesie) Wentworth, Carmen Torres, Tina Rodriguez, Eric Dyson, Luis Rivera, Ric Serpa, John Beauregard, Robert Filipkowski, Tim Graham, Jon Todd, Sheila Griffin and Azari Rosa, his marine brothers since 1986 Robert Moore, George Wiggins, John Bailey, Dan Myers, Robert Becker, Milton Pearson and the late Tom Murray and many more.  
He leaves behind his Aunts Faye, Eileen, Michelle, Robin, Karen, Christine, Judith, Patty, Carole, his Uncles Kelly, Joe, Scott and Richard all who had a part of his upbringing and stayed in his life and so many cousins with whom he had a special bond.

He is predeceased by his mother LuAnn Alejandro, a brother Peter Sonnier a niece Samantha Sonnier a nephew Stephen Sweet, his Godson Matthew Cancel, his Aunt Paula, his Aunt Kerry, his in-laws  Michael and Joan O'Rourke,  and his beloved granddaughter Olivia Grace. 

Eric graduated from Burncoat High School and Nichols College.  He was an avid basketball player in high school and on the courts at great brook valley, Clark Street school, and the boys and girls club winning many championships. He also played Football for Breens in the Legends League of the Worcester Parks Football League winning  a championship 

Eric left for the Marines the day of graduation and it was one of his greatest accomplishments second only to the pride he had for his daughter Tiffany.  

He came back to Worcester, having many manufacturing jobs, his last job was with Saint Gobain.  

Eric was a giver, he loved to donate to charities.  If a friends kid was fundraising he was the first to give.  You could always find Eric with his dogs, he had a love for animals and was called the dog whisperer.  Eric always had a deck of cards with him and ready for a game. Eric loved playing his online game hero wars and connecting with other gamers and an old game battle nations where you would find him and his best friend June at the local coffee shop with their iPads in hand 

Eric loved traveling, especially to Aruba at Christmastime where he made lifelong friends Cheri Storey, Cliff and Kim Exantus and their boys,  South Carolina was a second home with Bob and Lyndy Moore and Florida with cousins Brenda and Craig Rollins 

A special Thank you to his cousin Marcy Dube for taking great care of him.   

To the amazing medical staff from the VA of Worcester especially Dr. Jiang, Stuart his pharmacist, Anthony his physical therapist and Carly his speech therapist from St. Vincent Hospital, the UMass Oncology team, Dr Cacchia, Erika, and Ashley who treated us like Family and made it easy for us, Leicester Police, Fire and Rescue squad and  finally to Ascend Nursing & Hospice especially Kingsley, Priscilla and Paul, we deeply appreciated every one of you.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 21 from 12:00-3:00 PM in Callahan, Fay & Caswell Life Celebration Home, 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester.  A funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 22 at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street, Worcester.  Burial in St. John's Cemetery will be private at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 136, East Brookfield, MA 01515.