YOUNGSTOWN – Sonia J. (Gollis) Niro, 69, of Youngstown passed away peacefully the morning of November 15, 2024, at the Hospice house after a brief and sudden illness with Glioblastoma. Sonia never had a chance to fight this cancer but spent every moment, until the end, giving of herself to her family and friends and for this we will always be grateful.

Sonia was born June 30, 1955 in New castle, Pennsylvania and was a daughter of Julian Golis and Maria Stepanuik Golis and moved to the area as a child. She attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School and was a 1973 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and attended Youngstown State University.

She was still actively employed by PSK Steel as a programmer spending 44 years there. Semi-retired she was able to enjoy the many things she was passionate about and that was her family, friends, and vacationing, always insisting it was all done together. Some of her favorite destinations to travel to over the years included; beaches, Caribbean Cruises, and Switzerland.

Sonia was an active and devoted member of St. Edward parish and spent a lot of her time involved as a sacristan, lector, Eucharistic minister, host, and a greeter.

Sonia was a very mothering figure to all her nieces and nephews raising them as her own. She was always so kind and giving, thinking always of others, and always thinking of everyone's needs before her own. Her infectious laugh and smile made everyone around her happy. She enjoyed the holidays but shopping for them was her favorite part. She had away of making everyone around her feel special.

Sonia leaves to forever cherish the many memories she made with so many of us, but especially her life partner and fiancé, Jim Kopanic of Youngstown; sister and best friend Julie Mayhew; nephew, David J. Mayhew (Alexandra Rinehart), nieces, Rachel Mayhew, and Kristen Mayhew Colley (Carson Colley) and great niece, Marlo Colley. Also, countless other family members in the Ukraine and in Poland.

Sonia was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Golis, her sister Barbra and her favorite loyal dog, Gertrude who she lovingly called Gert and her fiancé Jim's father, Micheal Kopanic Sr. as his caregiver.

The family will receive relatives and friends Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in St. Edward Church from 3:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 5:30 p.m. celebrated by the Very Reverend Monsignor Robert Siffrin.

All donations in Sonia's memory can be made to St. Edward Parish, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown, Ohio 44504.

Thoughts and condolences sent to the funeral home website www.mccauleyfuneral.com

Arrangements by The McCauley Funeral Home privileged to serve the valley for more than 122 years.