Sonja M Bjerg

Sonja May Bjerg, 83, of Floral City, FL passed away unexpectedly January 31st, 2022, under the care of her six children and Citrus Memorial Hospital of Inverness. She was born to the late Warren and Mary Hellen (Quinn) Benson on July 22nd, 1938, in Bedford, Indiana. Not only was she Owner and Operator, along with her late husband Paul, of Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant of Hickory, NC, for many years, she was also a loving dedicated wife, mommy, grandma and great-grandma.
Sonja loved and was devoted to her Catholic faith. She also loved spending time with her most loved friend, Irene Manning, with whom she has been best friends since childhood. She enjoyed fishing, watching TV, playing poker with her friends, going out shopping with and sewing for her girls, dancing, traveling, and playing Bridge. She enjoyed spending time with her family and loved attending Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness.
Along with her parents, Sonja was preceded in death by her beloved late husband, Paul, who passed away in 1996. She was also preceded in death by her brother, John (Jack) Benson. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Paul Warren (Gisela) Bjerg of Hickory, NC, Mary Astrid (Richard) Timmons of Hickory, NC, Dea Katrina (Richard) Fratelli of Charlotte, NC, Johanna Kristina (Scott) Breese of Floral City, FL, Joseph Wilder (Michele) Bjerg of Concord, NC, and Jason Nils (Mandy) Bjerg of Connelly Springs, NC; her thirteen cherished grandchildren, Paul, Joseph, Sarah, Steven, Richard Jr. (Ricky), Travis, Brian, Katie, Staff Sgt. Tyler, Austin, Sandra, Eric and Kevin; and her seven adored great-grandchildren, Kylie, Lucas, June, Dominic, Victoria, Dylan and Brily, expected in March 2022.
Sonja would wish to remember the late Rebecca (Becky) Bethel. Becky cared for and helped raise not only Sonja’s mother, but also Sonja, her children and grandchildren.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022, at 3 PM at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness, FL with Father Claudius Mganga offering the Holy Sacrifice. Sonja will be laid to rest at Salisbury National Cemetery, alongside her husband, in Salisbury, North Carolina, on February 14th. Local arrangements are under the direction of Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness, FL. Hickory, NC arrangements are under the direction of Bass-Smith Funeral Home, Hickory, NC.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN.com) and National Right to Life (NRLC.org).