Maria Sonia Alejandro

Maria Sonia Alejandro, age 80; of Jersey City, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, June 6, 2024. A proud Filipino-American, Sonia was the pioneer of her family here in the United States.  Coming from humble beginnings in Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippines, Sonia worked hard to earn scholarships that brought her to college in Manila where she worked after graduation.  She was working in Manila where she met her late husband, Jesus Alejandro.  

After getting married, Sonia immigrated to the U.S. without any family, but with the help of incredible friends.  She arrived in Jersey City where she continued to stay and raise a family, paving the way for her husband, mother and father, sister and many other relatives to have a new start in the U.S. She continued her education in chemical engineering here in the U.S. and continued to lead a successful career at Florasynth (eventually acquired by Bayer) developing perfumes.  Sonia grew to lead her own laboratory and develop a close-knit team at the company.  She was also a philanthropist and served as the President of the Marinduqueños of the Eastern Seaboard, a Filipino-American charity that raised funds to support education in her home island of Marinduque. 

She retired at the age of 63 to devote her life to her children, sister, and eventually grandchildren. She was an incredible Mother to Marte Alejandro, Sally and Brian Tonel, and the late Jessica Alejandro; grandmother to Gaven, Jace, Nia and Kobe, daughter to the late Juana and Gomercindo Marte, sister to the late Minda Marte and Violeta Mendez, aunt to Ton Mendez and the late Joey Mendez, and friend.  Sonia will be remembered as a resilient, tenacious woman that modeled the utmost faith in God and power of the human spirit.  Her extraordinary love extended far beyond her family as she has touched the lives of many in the Filipino-American and Jersey City communities. 

Visitation is Monday, June 10, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 3205 Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City.  (For GPS navigation it is best to use our parking lot address: 14 Stagg Street).  Funeral is Tuesday, June 11, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM at the funeral home.  Funeral mass is at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Victories Church, 2217 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City.  Entombment will follow at Holy Name Cemetery, 823 West Side Ave., Jersey City.