| Notes |
- Obituary: Source: Red Deer Advocate newspaper
Weeks, Sonya Candace Weeks, a resident of Red Deer, AB, died suddenly on Sunday, June 15, 2003 at the age of 19 years. Sonya is survived by her parents Larry and Marianne Weeks and niece Shalee Weeks of Castor; special friend and companion Clay Guthrie of Red Deer; sisters Cherie Weeks (Ben Green) of Castor, Kristie Weeks (Chris Breckeridge) and their son Anthony of Red Deer; brother John Weeks (Paris Sims) of Lacombe, and John's son Brandon of Grimshaw as well as grandparents Drika and Bert Zylstra of Castor, and Clay's parents Bill and Carol Guthrie of lacombe as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and a host of many friends. Funeral services for Sonya Weeks will be held on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 2:00 pm in the Castor Evangelical Missionary Church, Castor AB. Should friends desire memorial tributes may be made in Sonya's memory to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Parkview Funeral Cahpels (1985) Ltd. of Castor, AB are entrusted with care and funeral arrangements. For further information, please contact 403-882-3141
Cremation was done.
In talking with Alzina Strome (cousin to Sonya's grandfather Austin Weeks), it seems Sonya was out partying Sat. night and the drug Ecstasy was found in her, presumably from a drink she had. Earlier newspaper reports state the drug was purchased that night from the bar, but the batch was found to be 'bad'. Unknown by her parents, Larry and Marianne had left Castor early June 15 to drive to Red Deer to spend Fathers Day with Sonya. RCMP detachment at Coronation called to the home farm and informed sister Sherie of the news who was home alone. She was able to contact her parents enroute to Red Deer. Large attendance at the funeral today; mostly young people. Sonya had graduated last year and had been working in Red Deer, in the caring profession of looking after disabled people in their homes. She was well liked, had a host of friends who all attended her funeral in Castor.
Former Castor resident dies of drug overdose: Source Red Deer Advocate newspaper, Thurs June 26, 2003 by Stephen Raivio, Staff reporter
The community was rocked last week when news hit that a former resident had died of a drug overdose in Red Deer.
Sonya Weeks passed away on Father's Day, June 15 in Red Deer. She was only 19 years
old.
Weeks apparently became ill after taking two ecstasy pills at the Euphoria dance club in downtown Red Deer on Saturday night, June 14. She went home at about 6 a.m. and friends called paramedics at 10:15 a.m. when they noticed she had stopped breathing.
Weeks' funeral was held Friday at the Castor Evangelical Missionary Church, with Vern Hein officiating.
Sonya's parents, Larry and Marianne Weeks of Castor, said their daughter's death hammers home how dangerous drugs can be.
"I don't think she was into drugs much. She just tried it a few times," said Larry on Wednesday.
He said Sonya worked full time at the Life seniors home in Red Deer, and was a creative person who had poetry published in one of the Red Deer newspapers.
Larry said other youths need to be aware of how dangerous drugs are.
"They don't think it can happen to them. They take that crap and it doesn't affect them, but it could the next time," he said.
"We'd just like people to see what drugs can do to you. Sonya just dabbled in it, and look what it did to her."
He also said the poeple who deal the drugs, especially when they result in a death, should be dealt with harshly.
"They should be charged with manslaughter, I think," he said.
Larry thanked the community for its support during this very difficult time. "We got a lot of nice cards from the teachers at the schools, and they had a lot of nice comments," he said.
Greg Muhlbeier, a teacher at the Gus Wetter school who taught Weeks said her death has been a huge shock.
"It impacted some kids (At the school) but she had been gone (from Castor) for a while," said Muhlbeier on Wednesday.
"I was at the funeral and there were quite a few kids there. It was a shock and I think it sent a message.
"It was a horrible shock. Twenty years I've been teaching and this is the first student I've lost," he said. "She was a really nice kid, very well mannered and a very nice heart."
Sonya Weeks worked full time in Red Deer as a caregiver for the disabled. Those who knew her said she will be remembered as a happy and caring friend.
According to one of her friends in Red Deer, she was not a regular drug user.
She moved from Castor to Red Deer about a year ago.
Ecstasy has been found to contain potentially lethal cocktails of other drugs. Ecstasy pills are commonly laced with other drugs such as LSD and even strychnine, or rat poison.
Ecstasy is also taken with other drugs, such as alcohol, crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine or other combinations.
Muhlbeier said "It's not just a big city problem. It can happen anywhere, and this proves that."
He also pointed out that the drug dealers don't care about the well-being of their customers, only about making a profit.
If friends of Weeks would like to make memorial tributes, they may be made in Sonya's memory to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.
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My Scottish "Wilkie" Family
1984 - 2003 (19 years)
