MOUNT VERNON – Sonya Danielle Dudgeon Broeren, 52, passed away on March 22, 2021, in Newport Beach, California, after a long battle with ovarian cancer.
Sonya was born on July 10, 1968, in Mount Vernon. She was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and a 1990 graduate of Kenyon College, where she majored in political science.
Sonya brightened any room she walked into. She lived for every moment and experienced life in its fullest. She was well loved for her easygoing manner and ability to make everyone feel like a friend. Her laughter and wit brought smiles to anyone who met her.
She raised two wonderful children of whom she was very proud. Sonya was a native of Gambier, descended from a long line of local residents in Knox County. In 2002, in an effort to get back to her roots, she moved her family from Washington D.C. back to Gambier.
Sonya started working for Kenyon College in Alumni Affairs. She then moved to the Admissions Department and worked her way up to associate dean and director of International Admissions. International Admissions was a career that she loved and took pride in. Sonya enjoyed traveling with her colleagues and loved the students she met. In this capacity, she changed the lives of many students from around the world. Sonya received notes from international students well into their college careers thanking her for changing their lives, and telling her that her friendliness and enthusiasm drew them to Kenyon.
She is survived by her two children, a daughter, Eleanor C. Broeren, Middlebury College, and a son, Zachary D. Broeren, Denison University; her parents, G. Daniel and Shirley Dugan Dudgeon of Gambier; a sister, Stephanie L. Dudgeon of Columbus; her partner, Sean A. Ward of Newport Beach, California; and her former husband, P. Robert Broeren of Mount Vernon.
A celebration of life is being planned for later this summer.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to either The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University – Ovarian Cancer Research and Education in Gynecology Fund – Fund Number: 312187; or to the Sonya D. Dudgeon ’90 Memorial Fund for Off-Campus Studies at Kenyon College.
Submitted by Sean Ward
