Sonia Margarita Contreras-Nardi, 58, was taken much too soon, to Rest in Peace in God’s Light on February 14, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, she was the daughter of Jose Contreras & wife Delma and Leonor Cotto & husband Jose Merced. Sonia resided in Cromwell, CT, before settling in Springfield’s Forest Park Heights historical neighborhood.
Graduating from Springfield College, then receiving her MBA from St. Joseph College, Sonia went to work, and work she did. Between 1991 & 2011 she worked for Travelers of Hartford, CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, was Director of Contracts &Budgeting for Community Solutions, Inc., Financial Director & Fiscal Manager of Latinos Contra SIDA, Inc., and Program Administrator for Hogar CREA International of CT. She was a Court Planner of Special Projects for the CT Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division, was responsible for various federal grant proposals & evaluation, a trainer, and was responsible for the creation of some policy & contact language ensuring uniformity and model fidelity in the service of different programs throughout the state.Sonia also worked as a national security program Spanish linguist & translator for AECOM, with national security clearance, for the Drug Enforcement Agency.
After moving to Massachusetts, she served the public as Area Administrative Manager for the Department of Children & Families, and most recently, the MA Department of Revenue as the Western Regional Deputy Director.
Sonia served her community sitting on the Latino Community Practice Advisory Board for St. Joseph University, as part of the Cultural Competency Advisory Committee for CSSD, and cooked with NardiFoods, Inc., donating food to the homeless at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield.
Along with her parents, Sonia is survived by her beloved husband Alfonso Nardi, her adored daughters, Vanessa Marandino & husband Jason, Elizabeth Ashley Tiblanc & husband Ralph, Sofia Nardi and Marina Rhodes, her cherished sons, Alfonso Nardi, Jr.& wife Sage, William Nardi & fiancée Jessica Resuta, the apples of her eye, grandchildren, Gabriel, Sevyn, Lamar and Logan, brother Mickey Contreras & wife Gladys, sister Maritza Torres & husband David, nephew Christian, nieces Ruby & Christina, and her step brothers Alberto & Luis Contreras carry her blessing to their families in Puerto Rico.
Family and friends are invited to Sonia’s funeral mass, Saturday, February 20, 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Springfield, followed by her burial at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Masks and social distancing required.
At Sonia’s request, memorial contributions may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.
Please visit www.TazziniFuneralHome.com for condolences.