Sonia “Sunny” Rishty passed away on October 15, 2026, at the age of 96, leaving behind a loving family and a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Sunny will be remembered for her impeccable sense of style, her eye for beauty, and the warmth and care she showed to those around her. As a young woman, she was a cheerleader and a model, and throughout her life she was the consummate hostess.

Sunny took great pride in creating a beautiful and welcoming home, which she lovingly maintained for more than 50 years. She had a special appreciation for the finer details in life—everything had its place and everything had to be just right. Even taking grapes from the refrigerator called for silver grape shears.

Above all, Sunny loved taking care of the people around her. Her instinct was always to make sure everyone was comfortable and well fed. Even near the end of her life, when there was no food to offer, she would still ask, “Can I get you something to eat?” It was a simple question that captured so much of who she was.

Sunny is survived by her daughter, Joanne Levin; her grandchildren, Adam (Rachel) and Samantha (Mitchell); and her beloved great-grandchildren, Nova, Jetsen, Elanor, and Margot. She was predeceased by her son, Stephen Andrew Cohn, who passed away five years before her.

Sunny will be deeply missed by her family and friends and lovingly remembered for her style, her warmth, her generosity, and the many ways she made life more beautiful for those she loved.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, October 18, 2026, 1pm, at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Adelphi, MD. Following the service, family and friends are warmly invited to gather at the home of Samantha Levin and Mitchell Smith in Bethesda to share memories and celebrate Sunny’s life. Shiva will resume Monday through Thursday at 6:30pm with minyan at 7pm. Please contact the funeral home for more details. 

Memorial contributions in Sunny's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).