Sonia L. Kassinger of Westfield, N.J. died on Monday, June 20, in Edgartown. She was 71 and had been vacationing on the Vineyard with her family every summer for more than 30 years. Sonia was a world traveler but the Vineyard always remained her favorite place — it was her “heaven away from heaven.”

A memorial service was held on June 28 in the chapel of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield. As part of the service several stories were shared about the wonderful times her family and friends shared with her on the Vineyard, including a few words about her favorite song, Never Been Gone, by Carly Simon.

Mrs. Kassinger, a longtime resident of Westfield, was a realtor with Coldwell Banker. She was also active as a volunteer at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J.

She was born on April 30, 1940, in Bayonne, N.J., and lived in Abingdon, England, and Westfield since 1972. She graduated from Bayonne High School and attended Kean College.

She is survived by her husband, Rudy; a daughter, Karen and her husband Chris; a son, Michael and his wife Lauren-Beth; a sister, Tania and her husband Ronald; a brother, Gregory; and two grandchildren, Noah and Ava-Jordan.

In lieu of flowers you may contribute to Elvia’s Angels (Lauren-Beth’s mother is suffering from a serious brain trauma injury — payable to LB Kass, P.O. Box 262, Little Silver, NJ 07739), Overlook Hospital Foundation in Sonia Kassinger’s name or to the Presbyterian Church in Westfield (mark memo line Agape Soup Kitchen/in memory of Sonia Kassinger).