Roquelia "Rocky" Samson Sonntag

August 17, 1933 - October 8, 2026

Roquelia "Rocky" De Leon Samson Sonntag, a beloved wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, and friend, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of faith, family, compassion, and service to others. Although her full name was sometimes difficult for people to pronounce, nearly everyone knew her simply as Rocky-a name that became synonymous with warmth, generosity, and a life devoted to caring for others.

Early Life and Journey to America

Rocky was born on August 17, 1933, in Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines, to Feliciano Samson and Alejandra De Leon. Her early life was shaped by the hardships of World War II, during which she endured difficult circumstances and experienced the loss of friends, family, and community. Despite these challenges, she persevered, pursued an education, and began a journey that would eventually bring her across the world to build a new life in America.

In 1955, Rocky graduated from the Mary Johnston School of Nursing in the Philippines. Following graduation, she served at Clark Air Base in the Philippines from 1955 through 1957, working with the United States Air Force. During this period, she formed friendships that would help open the door to her future in the United States.

With assistance from Air Force friends and sponsorship from the Catholic Sisters of Charity, Rocky immigrated to the United States to continue her nursing education and career. She began this new chapter at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, embracing the opportunities and challenges of establishing herself in a new country.

A Love Story and a New Home

It was through a USO pen-pal writing opportunity that Rocky came to know Andrew H. Sonntag of Canton, Ohio, a veteran of the United States Army. Their correspondence blossomed into a relationship, and Andrew made several train trips to Chicago to visit her. Those visits eventually led to a marriage proposal, and on May 3, 1961, they were married in Cook County, Illinois.

Together, Rocky and Andrew began building their life and family. Eldest son, Christopher, was born on February 27, 1962. That same year, with help from Andrew's family and the GI Bill, they purchased and renovated an old farmhouse on 25th Street in Canton, Ohio, creating a home for their growing family. In addition to Christopher and their younger son, Craig, born in July 1965, Rocky was stepmother to Andrew's sons from a previous marriage, John and Dana.

In February 1965, after studying for and passing the naturalization examination, Rocky became a naturalized citizen of the United States. She was deeply proud of this accomplishment, which represented an important milestone in her journey from the Philippines to the country she would call home for the rest of her life.

A Lifelong Calling to Nursing and Service

After settling in Canton, Rocky dedicated more than 30 years to nursing at Aultman Hospital, working in Labor and Delivery. She helped mothers bring their babies into the world and provided skilled care, reassurance, and compassion to countless families during some of life's most memorable moments. Her work was more than a profession; it was a calling that reflected her deep concern for others.

Retirement from Aultman did not end Rocky's commitment to helping people. She continued working for several years with the American Red Cross, helping support blood drives throughout the region, and served as a traveling nurse for Akron General. She also volunteered her time processing donated medical equipment and participated in medical missions with World Medical Relief, helping extend the reach of healthcare to people in need.

When Andrew was no longer able to drive her to Red Cross blood drive locations, Rocky adapted once again, taking on leadership responsibilities at rehabilitation centers and nursing homes throughout Stark County, where she served as a staff supervisor or Assistant Director of Nursing.

Throughout her career and volunteer work, Rocky found ways to put her nursing knowledge and compassion to use. From welcoming newborns into the world to supporting older adults and contributing to medical relief efforts, she devoted much of her life to caring for others. Even after retirement, she continued to find purpose in service.

Faith, Fellowship, and Filipino Heritage

Rocky's Methodist faith was central to her life. After coming to Canton, she became an active member of Church of the Savior, participating in fellowship and singing in the choir. After moving to Jackson Township, she joined The Church of the Lakes Methodist Church, where she continued her active involvement and love of singing. She was an enthusiastic and vocal member of the choir at both churches, sharing her voice and faith with her church families.

Her commitment to community also extended to preserving and celebrating her Filipino heritage. Rocky was a founding member of the Northeast Ohio Filipino American Association, helping strengthen connections among Filipino Americans in the region and keeping cultural traditions alive by participating in the Stark County International Festival for many years.

Rocky had a special gift for bringing people together through food. She introduced friends, coworkers, and even strangers to Filipino dishes, generously sharing the flavors and traditions of her homeland. She became particularly well known locally for her egg rolls, which earned her an almost legendary reputation among those fortunate enough to taste them. Through her cooking, she shared not only her heritage but also her hospitality and love for others.

A Love of Life, Friends, and Celebration

Rocky knew how to enjoy life and loved being surrounded by family and friends. Though she never drank alcohol, she never needed it to enjoy a good party. Good food, music, singing, dancing, and the company of others were all she needed to have a wonderful time. She delighted in celebrations and the opportunity to bring people together, creating memories that would last long after the music ended.

She also enjoyed fashion and shopping, appreciating the fun of finding something special and taking pride in how she looked. These interests were another expression of her vibrant personality and her enjoyment of life's pleasures.

Whether gathering around a table filled with Filipino dishes, singing with her church choir, celebrating with friends, or enjoying time with family, Rocky had a way of making life's ordinary moments feel special. She was proud of her Filipino roots, grateful for the life she built in America, and happiest when she could share her interests, traditions, and time with others.

A Legacy of Love and Perseverance

Rocky's life was a remarkable journey-from her childhood in the Philippines and the hardships of war, through nursing school and service at Clark Air Base, to immigration, marriage, motherhood, and more than three decades of caring for patients in Ohio. She built a home, raised a family, embraced her American citizenship, nurtured her faith, celebrated her heritage, and continued serving others long after many people would have retired.

Beyond her many accomplishments, Rocky will be remembered for the personal connections she made: the families she helped in the delivery room, the patients she cared for, the medical relief efforts she supported, the friends she welcomed, the church members who sang beside her, the people who gathered around her table, and the family who shared her life's journey.

She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, faith, generosity, and love. Her life demonstrated that caring for others is not simply something one does for a living, but something one can carry into every part of life. She also showed that a life well lived should include friendship, laughter, music, good food, and plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Rocky will be deeply missed by her family, friends, former colleagues, church communities, and all those whose lives she touched. Though she is no longer with us, her memory will live on in

the countless people she cared for, the traditions she shared, the songs she sang, the meals she prepared, the celebrations she enjoyed, and the love she gave so freely.

Family

Rocky is lovingly remembered by her beloved brother, Robert; her sons, Chris Sonntag (Ruth) and Craig Sonntag; her stepsons, John Sonntag (Vicki) and Dana Sonntag (Marion); her grandchildren, Jason Sonntag, Rosemarie Sonntag, Keith Sonntag, Stephanie Sonntag, Trishia Doolan, Sydney Moldovan, and Malique Gordon; and her great-grandchildren, Allyannah Sonntag, Mi'Yuri Gordon, Zane Sonntag, Avery Sonntag, Sophia Doolan, Cameron Doolan, Fiona Jones, Rylee Jones, and Lucas Moldovan.

Family was an enduring part of Rocky's life, reaching across generations and spanning miles and oceans. She is also lovingly remembered by numerous relatives and extended family members throughout the United States, the Philippines, and around the world, reflecting the far-reaching bonds of family that connect so many lives.

Rocky was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew H. Sonntag; her parents, Feliciano Samson and Alejandra De Leon; her brothers, Conrado, Felipe, and Serafin; and her sisters, Francia, Filipina, Loma, and Felina.

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life

A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held from noon to 5 pm on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at The Church of the Lakes, 5944 Fulton Drive NW, Canton, Ohio 44718. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance and celebration of Rocky's life, her enduring faith, and the many lives she touched.

May she rest in peace, secure in the faith she cherished, and may her memory continue to bring comfort, gratitude, and love to all who knew her.

Ward-Simchak Funeral Home
330-455-0293