Sonia I. Collazo

                                        Sonia Iris Collazo (Gonzalez)

     Beloved matriarch. Community advocate. Proud daughter of Puerto Rico.
Sonia Iris Collazo was born on February 23, 1948 in Orocovis, Puerto Rico to Alfredo Gonzalez and
Adela Melendez de Gonzalez. She passed away in Philadelphia, PA on March 26, 2024.

     After receiving her formal education in Orocovis, she attended the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto
Rico - Barranquitas before moving to Philadelphia.

     Upon arriving in Philadelphia, she continued her education at Temple University and worked as a
kindergarten teacher at Potter-Thomas School. She was one of the first employees at Asociación
Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM). Sonia went on to have a long and respected career in the City of
Philadelphia's Department of Human Relations, retiring after more than 26 years of service. She was a
proud member of AFSCME District Council 47.

     With a caring heart that led her to serve her community, Sonia was one of the lead organizers of the ‘Walk
for Peace,’ an initiative that began in 1996 to address violence among young people. In retirement, Sonia
volunteered much of her time at Congreso de Latinos Unidos retirees’ program.

     In 2013, Sonia was selected by Hunter College in New York City as one of 100 Puerto Ricans to archive
their stories and contributions at El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Alfredo, and sisters, Maria de Jesus & Maria de los
Angeles.

     Left to cherish her memory are her loving sons, Rafael P. Collazo (Michelle Roman-Collazo); Michael O.
Collazo (Joy Collazo) and Mario A. Collazo (Melissa Collazo); grandchildren Marcus Alexander, Mario
Andres, Elijah Marcellus, Elaina Iris, Nathaniel Troy, Maxwell Rafael, William Xavier Isaiah and Joaquin
Robinson Clemente; sisters Aura, Zaida, Elna, Alma and Leida; brothers Javier, Dennis, Omar and
Lester; additional siblings include Jaime, Vicky, Gizehemma & Sandra; a host of nieces and nephews;
and other family and friends.

     Memorial Contributions in her honor may be made to:  loveshouldnthurtphilly.org   and  tallerpr.org    

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