Maria Amelia Sonia Tafares Belgrave

Wharton:  Maria Amelia Sonia Tafares Belgrave, better known to family and friends as Sonia, died peacefully at home in Wharton on December 22, 2025 where she resided since 2017 with her cousin Kristine Bendsen Beirne and husband Thomas P. Beirne  and her sister Patricia. Sonia was 87 years old.  She was born in British Guiana, now Guyana. She is predeceased by her parents, Charles Tafares-Lawrence and Eulalia Belgrave Valenzuela de Tafares and her sister Carol Tafares Belgrave.

The family returned to Venezuela, to the family’s native country when Sonia was 9 years old. She and her sister Patricia were sent to Ursuline Convent St. Joseph’s School in Barbados to ensure that they would be bilingual in English.  This experience ensured a successful career as an Executive Administrative Assistant in the oil industry in Venezuela.  She retired in 2000 from Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

Throughout her youthful years Sonia enjoyed reading (she would sometime bring a book to a party), fencing, bowling and table tennis. She loved travelling with friends and her sister and visited countries all over Europe, Asia and North and South America.  In 1997 and after retirement she and her sister frequently visited their family in Wharton and friends in Florida and cousins in Canada.

In 2017 Sonia, accompanied by her sister came for a visit and because of the political upheaval in Venezuela, they were unable to return to Venezuela, an unexpected and painful situation.  Most of the family of extended cousins have left Venezuela and are scattered throughout Europe, South America, the US and Canada. 

Having settled in Wharton for the last 8 years, both Sonia and Patricia became an integral member of the Beirne-Bendsen family and the parish family of St. Mary’s where she faithfully attended Mass.  She had a great devotion to the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. She volunteered in the St. Mary’s Food Pantry along with her sister and they devoted many hours to Birthright in Dover, assisting Mothers in need and their bilingual skills were an important contribution to those services. In Venezuela, Sonia was a member of the Legion of Mary and volunteered visiting people who were homebound and in nursing homes.

Throughout her career days and adulthood, Sonia was noted to be impeccably dressed, stylish from head to toe.  Three things would light up her face:  A car ride, children, and ice cream! 

Sonia is survivied in the US by her sister Patricia, Cousin Kristine Bendsen Beirne, Wharton, NJ.  and cousins: John Butler and wife Andrea and daughter Eliana in Franklin, Tn, David Butler and wife Lauren in Montclair, NJ and Sara Butler Zalesky, husband Eric and son Quinten in Downingtown, PA.  Patricia Bendsen and husband Dave and son Cavan, Wharton, NJ, Sharon Bendsen and Kat Bendsen and children, Tyler and Amber, West Milford, NJ as well as too numerous cousins to count, dear friends still in Venezuela and around the world. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 3rd at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Church in Wharton.   Internment will be private. 

A donation may be made to Atlantic Home Care and Hospice.  465 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960

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