Tributes have been paid to a ‘fun and outgoing’ hairdresser of 32 years who ‘everyone loved’.
Sonja Marjorie Jones, of Crawshawbooth, passed away from pneumonia at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital on January 10, aged 78.
The beloved mother-of-two was a mobile hairdresser working around Bacup, Waterfoot and Stacksteads and attracted celebrity clients such as fashion designer, Betty Jackson, and her mother, Philis.
Sonja’s daughter Gemma, herself a self-employed hairdresser, said: “Everything she did revolved around her family. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she was always there for everyone.
“She had the ability to make us feel safe and where ever we moved and no matter how far away we moved, it wasn’t a big deal, as long as we were together as a family.
“She was the best wife, mum and sister anyone could ever ask for. Mum was really creative and liked working with her hands. She loved people and everyone loved her.
Sonja with her husband of 53 years, John, pictured on their wedding day
(Image: Family handout)
“She was fun and outgoing. She was well known and had lots of friends. She enjoyed life and putting dinner parties on for her friends.”
The devoted grandmother-of-one ran her own salon in Stacksteads and would cut, colour and style her clients’ hair, with many customers opting for a traditional perm and setting which was stylish at the time.
She made friends with her clients and would have a friendly chat with them while she worked on their hair.
Sonja was born to parents Linda and Ellis Greenwood who ran The Rose ‘N’ Bowl pub in Stacksteads.
She grew up in Stacksteads and throughout her life lived in various parts of the borough, including Waterfoot, Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth.
Her sister Beverley looked up to Sonja as a motherly figure and the pair would enjoy days out together.
Sonja also ran a second-hand clothes stall at numerous markets. She was very talented at sewing and would make beautiful matching outfits for her daughters, Gemma and Samantha, as well as upholstering chairs.
Sonja Jones (right) with husband John and daughters Samantha and Gemma
(Image: Family handout)
Sonja kept in touch with her dear friend Anne who she had known since she was 15 years old and had been by her side until her passing.
The former Fearns High School pupil did a hairdressing apprenticeship in Manchester and trained at Sammy Claggs in Stacksteads for a couple of years.
She loved fashion and shopping and adored her job at Kendals in Manchester, where she worked for around seven years.
Sonja met her husband John who was also a hairdresser and then became a fireman based in Rawtenstall for 25 years.
The couple got married at a church in Stacksteads in 1971 and enjoyed holidays in Tenerife a couple of times a year. They owned a bed and breakfast in Blackpool and another one in Stockport.
Sonja and her family lived in South Africa for five years where she ran her own salon. John and Sonja then lived in Cyprus for three years.
Sonja was adored by her nieces and nephews; Jade, Chloe, Fawn, Mitchell, Faye, Lydia, Bobby, Jack, Ian and Neil.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox