Sonja Theresa Thorsen Winchester, 80, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022.

Sonja was born on December 18, 1941, in Pensacola, FL at Sacred Heart Hospital. She grew up in East Hill and graduated from Pensacola High School in 1959. While attending school, she worked at her aunt's flower shop. After graduation, she worked at Pensacola Loan and Savings Bank where through good friends met the love of her life Paul. Sonja and Paul were married on June 10, 1961, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. In October 1962, they welcomed their first-born son, Scott followed by daughter, Theresa & sons, Greg and Erik. Family was everything to Sonja, she was the matriarch of her family. She dearly loved to travel, especially to the mountains. Her greatest joy was all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sonja was an animal lover of all kinds, she had many over the years and loved them all. She would never turn a stray away. The saying "Home is where the heart is" was ever so true, she was the most amazing wife, mother, and grandmother that anyone could ask for. Sonja welcomed everyone with open arms and was a true blessing.

Sonja is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore Reinhardt Thorsen Sr. and Sigrid Johanna Torgersen Thorsen; brothers, Theodore R. "Ted" Thorsen and Edward T. Thorsen; sister, Thelma Geraldine Thorsen; her mother-in-law, Audrey Nadine Hill and daughter-in-law, Susan Marlene Winchester.

Sonja is survived by her husband, Paul Winchester, Jr. of Cantonment, FL; sons, Scott Winchester of Cantonment, FL, Greg Winchester (Johnnie) of Pensacola, FL and Erik Winchester (Kelly) of Panama City, FL; daughter, Theresa Driver (Mike) of Cantonment, FL; granddaughters, Mia Winchester of Westminster, CO and Carolyn Winchester of Panama City, FL; grandsons, Christopher Driver (Cristina) of Cantonment, FL, Charles Driver (Megan) of Molino, FL, Douglas Driver of Cantonment, FL, Griffin and Connor Winchester of Panama City, FL, James Winchester (Tiffany) of Pensacola, FL, Derek Winchester (Amanda) of Bagdad, FL; 14 great grandchildren; nieces, Geri Landers of Weatherford, TX, Linda Bish of Pensacola, FL, Barbara Ann Clemons of Venice, FL and nephew, Bubba Thorsen (Renee) of Pensacola, FL.

Visitation will be held 12:00noon until a funeral service to begin at 1:00pm Friday, January 14, 2022, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 24 Wright St., Pensacola, FL with Pastor Randy Blankschaen officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1300 E. Hayes St., Pensacola, FL.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Driver, Charles Driver, Douglas Driver, Andrew Driver, James Winchester, Derek Winchester, Griffin Winchester, and Connor Winchester.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the nurses, and medical team in SINU and ICU at Baptist Hospital for their excellent care and compassion, the physicians of Cardiology Consultants, as well as special thanks to Pastor Randy Blankschaen for his presence and guidance.