Sonia Lewey

WILMINGTON— Sonia Lewey (Sunnie), 91, of Wilmington, passed away at Lightways Hospice of Joliet, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
Sunnie was born in Hammond, IN on Dec. 19, 1934, to John H. McCarty and Lucille P (Lytle) McCarty. Sunnie lived in a number of states as a child including, Texas, New York, and also spent a couple years in Canada. She graduated from Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights in 1952. In 1952 she moved to Joliet, and attended several colleges including Joliet Junior College and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Lewis University in 1976.
Sunnie was very independent most of her life. She was fearless and if she wanted to do something she did it. Sunnie had many adventures with friends and family continuing in 1963, when she met Dwight Lewey and they were married at her mother’s home in Joliet.
In 1964 their daughter Melissa was born, and they became a family of three. Sunnie and Dwight built a small cottage with an outhouse on the Kankakee River in 1967 and added an addition on the home in 1971. They moved from the home they built in Joliet, to their river home in 1976. Sunnie loved her life at the river and she made many friends and had wonderful neighbors over the 50 plus years they lived there, especially Branka Davis.
Sunnie had a variety of interests including, but not limited to, attending plays, musicals, movies and operas. She also loved Shakespeare, art and watching Jeopardy and shared her passion with friends and her granddaughter, Rachel. She loved to travel to Washington Island, WI to attend Sievers School of Fiber Arts with her friend Penny.
Sunnie had a love of reading and a thirst for knowledge that lasted throughout her life. Sunnie loved music and movies and in her later years attended concerts with Melissa and her friends. She saw Pentatonix, Josh Groban, Willie Nelson, Rod Stewart and Cindy Lauper to name a few. Unfortunately, she never got to see one of her favorite bands, Queen. She had a kind heart and was a loyal friend to so many people. She kept in touch with family members who lived long distance and loved her great-nieces, nephews and their families, sending them cards and small gifts when she was able. Sunnie will be deeply missed by many.
Sunnie is survived by her husband, Dwight, of Wilmington; daughter, Melissa Alstott, of Diamond; granddaughter, Rachel Alstott, of Shorewood and grandsons: Billy Alstott, of Joliet and Craig Alstott, of Diamond. Also surviving is Amanda Raymond, of Joliet. She was a loving great-grandmother to Hunter Olson, Avery Alstott and Delilah Cheskie as well as Abby, Mason and Harmony Raymond; two nieces, Nancy (Bill) Sutton, of Virginia; Kathy Morrow, of Pennsylvania; nephew, Mark (Pam) Voyles, of Mt. Olive, IL; sisters-in-law: JoAnn Voyles and Joyce Hill, of Litchfield, IL; her many great and great-great-nieces and nephews and cousins, including Frances McCarty, of Venezuela; Carolina Gutierrez, Christina Colls and Charlotte Downs, of Florida and good friends including Lydia, Don, Ash, Paige, Aaron Granda as well as Pat and Bill Goldschmidt.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lucille; her brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Peggy McCarty; a niece, Deborah (Voyles) Neathery; her mother and father-in-law; Seymour and Elsie Lewey; brother-in-law, William Voyles; nephew-in-law, Lew Morrow as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
To honor Sunnie’s wishes a celebration of her wonderful life will take place in the late spring/early summer, a fitting time for lots of sun and warmth, just like Sunnie.