Clara Diaz Cruz

Clara Cruz, 80, of Palm Bay passed away on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Palm Bay Hospital. A native of New York, Clara and her family relocated to Florida in 1962 and to Brevard County in 1997. When finished raising her four children, Clara began working at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida where she worked for 20 years.

A loving woman of faith and family, Clara was a member of Joy Lutheran Church in Palm Bay and actively involved with the Ladies Craft Group. Her hobbies included volunteering at the church, crocheting, cooking, traveling, playing cards, but most importantly enjoying a good laugh and spending quality time with her family and friends. Clara was a warm-hearted, vivacious individual who always knew how to light up the room with her infectious smile.

Clara leaves behind her husband of 61 years, Emilio Cruz, her four children Patricia (Perry) Tibbetts, Emilio Steve (Kim) Cruz, David Cruz, and James (Kristen) Cruz. She was grandmother to Amber (Anthony) Raimondo, Robert (Kelli) Tibbetts, Evan Cruz, Alyssa Cruz, and Karina Cruz. Clara is also survived by many nieces and nephews and other extended family that she deeply cherished.

She was preceded in death by her father Narciso Diaz, her mother Sara Diaz, and siblings Antonio Diaz, Mary Ann Diaz Jonson, Antonia Perez, and Narciso “Chito” Diaz.

A service to celebrate Clara’s life will be held at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, March 29 at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock Street SE in Palm Bay.