Ex-CJ’s wife, columnist pass away

Sonia Kelsick, wife of former Chief Justice Cecil Kelsick, died last Friday at the Seventh-day Adventist Community Hospital after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disease.

And Thora O’Connor, a former columnist, died on Saturday. She was 94.

Sonia, 79, was born in Dominica but migrated to Trinidad shortly after her marriage to Justice Kelsick, 55 years ago. The Kelsicks had five children and four grand-children. Sonia was the daughter of prominent Dominica attorney Cecil Rawle, who was also at one time the Attorney General of Antigua.

Sonia was involved in several charitable organisations including the Girl Guide’s, the Living Water Community based at St Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, and The Eucharistic Adoration, where she was in charge of the eucharistic ministers.

Her daughter Andrea described Sonia as a very strong but quiet individual. “She was an approachable person and one who believed strongly in God. She was very much involved in church as she went there every single day,” said Andrea.

Kelsick, who served as Chief Justice from 1983 to 1985, said he felt fortunate to have grown old with Sonia. “ She was a very understanding, loving, kind and caring person. She had a will to live, although in the last few days she suffered with much pain she was able to keep smiling along with her sense of humour,” Kelsick said.

Sonia is to be cremated tomorrow at the St James Crematorium following a service at the St Ann’s RC Church. Her ashes will be flown to Dominica for burial next to her mother’s grave.

For decades, between the 1960s and 80s, Thora O’Connor wrote the popular column “Pandora’s Box” for the Trinidad Guardian. She passed on this talent to her son Peter, a Newsday columnist and football official. Thora is survived by four sons and a daughter, grandchildren and great-grand children. Her funeral takes place today at 9.30 am, at Christ Church, Cascade.