My mother, German writer Sonja Herbert, passed away on Febuary 6th, 2015. She is very loved and will be sorely missed.
http://www.walkersanderson.com/obituaries/Sonja-Julia-Herbert/Provo-UT/1480123
Sonja Julia Herbert
September 29, 1947 - February 6, 2015
Resided in Provo, UT
Guestbook Photos Services
Obituary
Sonja Julia Herbert, 1947~2015
On the evening of February 6, 2015, at age 67, Sonja Julia Herbert passed away due to injuries received in an auto-pedestrian accident. At the time of her passing, Sonjalein was surrounded by loving family at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. She was an extraordinarily strong woman who radiated an example of loving acceptance to every life she touched.
Sonja was born to the late Apolinary Wawrzyniak (Father) and Margot Edel (Mother) on September 29, 1947 in Duisburg, Germany. Born in the aftermath of World War II, Sonja experienced an uncommon childhood with her parents and siblings in a travelling carnival (as recorded in her published memoir, "Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War," available on Amazon.com).
Her early life provided few roots, and the constant shift from place to place left Sonja searching for an anchor in her life. Through her struggles was born a much-sought-after relationship with God. As a result, Sonja was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, she served a Mormon mission in the Germany Dusseldorf Mission for eighteen months.
On August 3, 1971, Sonja married Gary A. Towne. Continuing her life's journey, Sonja and Gary moved to the United States. In Manti, Utah, Sonja performed some of her most important work in life as she bore and raised seven cherished children. The death of her daughter, Keena Anne, in 1977 was a terrible trial through which she gained an unwavering belief in the eternal nature of life and of family relationships.
After her marriage to Gary Towne ended in August of 1990, Sonja moved with her children to Provo, Utah. Here, she continued her dream of acquiring higher education. Sonja went on to earn an Associate's degree at Snow College, a Bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University (Summa cum Laudae), and a Master's degree at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she met Kenneth E. Herbert. Ken and Sonja married December 21, 1996 and remain eternal sweethearts today.
Sonja is an award-winning, published author, best known for her book Carnival Girl. Her historical novel, Tightrope, about her mother's life as a Jew in Nazi Germany, is still in progress.
She is survived by husband Ken Herbert; former husband Gary Towne; siblings Franz Wawrzyniak, Carmen Joseph, Josefa Dahl, Ewa Wawrzyniak, and Michael Wawrzyniak, all of Germany; children Dennis Towne, Daniel Towne, and Liesel Towne of Oregon; Marja Towne, Marit Towne, and Megan Towne Wickersham of Utah; step children Kenneth Herbert of Arizona, Jennifer Cano and Mariah Fralick of Utah, Jonathan Herbert of Texas, and Katherine Girard of Oregon; and by fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sonja was preceded in death by her father Apolinary Wawrzyniak; mother-in-law Verna Towne; and by her daughter Keena Anne.
Sonja left every life she touched with an undeniable sense of their worth to her.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18 at 1pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 800 North Locust Lane, Provo Utah 84606. To reach the chapel, proceed East on 800 North and turn left on Locust Lane. All who knew her are invited to come celebrate her life.
- See more at: http://www.walkersanderson.com/obituaries/Sonja-Julia-Herbert/Provo-UT/1480123#sthash.RNqVxCmF.dpuf
- - Carnival Girl
Stories about a little girl growing up in a carnival in post-WWII Germany
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Give Carnival Girl as a Christmas Present!
So go for it, order it from Amazon or go to the BYU bookstore or any other bookstore in your neighborhood, and by an affordable and always appropriate Christmas present when you buy Carnival Girl.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
A New Blog Review for Carnival Girl
Elizabeth from Reading for Sanity: A Book Review Blog has written a review for Carnival Girl. Enjoy!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Oktoberfest, Part 8
I stared into the sky at the Ferris wheel. It went up and up
into the cloudy sky, seemingly right into Heaven. Eventually I looked back down
again and realized we stood in a small line of people waiting to get into the
gondolas. It was our turn and the roustabout helped us into the yellow and red gondola. It was large, had a canvas roof and the sides were protected by strong
plexi-glass. Inside it was dry and almost cozy, and I was delighted to see that
we shared the gondola with four other people.
Slowly, bit by bit, the gondola rose. As we reached the top, we could see out over the whole carnival grounds, with the beer tents at one side, and the attractions stretching out for several blocks. I took out our camera and Ken and I took turns taking pictures of the grounds, and of the large churches and other buildings of Munich that lay behind the grounds.
Slowly, bit by bit, the gondola rose. As we reached the top, we could see out over the whole carnival grounds, with the beer tents at one side, and the attractions stretching out for several blocks. I took out our camera and Ken and I took turns taking pictures of the grounds, and of the large churches and other buildings of Munich that lay behind the grounds.
More about a surprise turn at the Ferris wheel tomorrow!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Book Giveaway and Review
Cami from the blog Love, Pray, Read, conducted a book giveaway for Carnival Girl. The giveaway is over now, but you can read the blog post and a short interview here: Love, Pray, Read.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Oktoberfest, Part 7
A few minutes after we left, Liesel pointed to a lovely
sight; a dark skinned and dark haired girl in the most lovely lavender dirndl,
accompanied by the most handsome young blond and blue-eyed man in Lederhosen.
I approached them and said, “Excuse me, do you mind posing
for a picture for my daughter who is visiting from America?”
They didn’t mind at all, and after the pictures were taken,
we found out that the young woman came from Brazil, where she had met the
German fellow, and then had followed him to Munich. They took a few pictures of
us, too, and we said good-bye and left.
The beer stands were so crowded with half drunk youth
standing around them, buying and drinking beer, that we passed them by and went
on for our obligatory Ferris wheel ride, Ken and I always take when we are at a
carnival.
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